Answer :
Final answer:
Alchemy was an ancient practice aimed at transmuting substances into more valuable forms, such as turning common metals into gold. Artificial transmutation, akin to alchemy, is the modern scientific practice of changing one element into another through nuclear reactions, as exemplified by Ernest Rutherford's transmutation of nitrogen into oxygen.
Explanation:
Alchemy was an ancient practice with a blend of mystical and secretive approaches to manipulating matter. Alchemists believed that all matter was composed of four basic elements: fire, water, earth, and air. By altering the proportions of these elements within a substance, the alchemists theorized that they could transmute common metals into precious ones, like gold. A famous goal of alchemy was the creation of the philosopher's stone, purported to grant immortality.
Artificial transmutation is similar to alchemy in that it involves changing one element into another. However, it is based on modern scientific principles and involves altering the nucleus of an atom through nuclear reactions. For example, Ernest Rutherford in 1919 transmuted nitrogen into oxygen using alpha particles. This process is akin to the alchemical goal of transforming lead into gold, but it is grounded in the principles of nuclear chemistry.
Answer:
an alchemy is
the medieval forerunner of chemistry, concerned with the transmutation of matter, in particular with attempts to convert base metals into gold or find a universal elixir.
