Asked in Physics, Chemistry, Atoms and Atomic Structure
Can an atom be made or destroyed?
Answer
Wiki User
03/02/2010
Yes. They can be made through either fusion or fission.
Through fusion, atoms with lower molecular numbers can combine to
make one atom of a higher molecular number. This process occurs in
stars when hydrogen is fused into helium.
In nuclear fission, an atom with a high molecular number, looses
neutrons and protons to become an atom with a lower molecular
number. It is said to be radioactive, and this happens naturally as
uranium turns into lead. When it happens naturally the rate at
which it goes through fission is called a half-life. When it is
used in a nuclear reactor it can release energy as if undergoes
fusion and produce a lot of energy over a long period of
time.
When it is used in an atomic bomb, the fission undergoes a chain
reaction where all the energy is released in a fraction of a second
and creates a huge explosion.
When it is used in a nuclear bomb, an atom bomb explodes under
nuclear fission and then triggers hydrogen to fuse into helium in a
secondary explosion. This type of bomb releases even more
energy.
So. Yes, atoms can be made and destroyed, in both cases huge
amounts of energy are released in the process.