transmutation

transmutation
transmutational, transmutative /trans myooh"teuh tiv, tranz-/, adj.transmutationist, n.
/trans'myooh tay"sheuhn, tranz'-/, n.
1. the act or process of transmuting.
2. the fact or state of being transmuted.
3. change into another nature, substance, form, or condition.
4. Biol. the transformation of one species into another. Cf. transformism.
5. Physics. any process in which a nuclide is transformed into a different nuclide, usually one of a different element.
6. Alchemy. the supposed conversion of base metals into metals of greater value, esp. into gold or silver.
[1350-1400; ME transmutacio(u)n ( < OF transmutation) < L transmutation- (s. of transmutatio) a changing, shifting, equiv. to transmutat(us) (ptp. of transmutare to change) + -ion- -ION. See TRANSMUTE, -ATION]

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      conversion of one chemical element into another. A transmutation entails a change in the structure of atomic nuclei and hence may be induced by a nuclear reaction (q.v.), such as neutron capture, or occur spontaneously by radioactive decay, such as alpha decay and beta decay (qq.v.). Transmutation of base metals (such as mercury, tin, copper, lead) into precious metals (gold, silver) was long attempted by alchemists, who had no concept of the atomic nature of matter. Their experimentation led to discoveries of many important chemical reactions, but chemical reactions are not capable of effecting the nuclear changes required for transmutation.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • transmutation — Transmutation …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • transmutation — [ trɑ̃smytasjɔ̃ ] n. f. • v. 1165; lat. transmutatio 1 ♦ Changement d une substance en une autre, et notamment d un corps chimique en un autre. Les alchimistes cherchaient à réussir la transmutation des métaux. ♢ (1934) Phys. Transformation d un… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Transmutation — may refer to:In pre scientific experimentation: *Alchemy, the quest to discover a way to turn inexpensive metals such as lead into gold.In physics: *Nuclear transmutation, the conversion of one chemical element or isotope into another through… …   Wikipedia

  • transmutation — TRANSMUTATION. s. f. v. Changement, transformation. Transmutation metallique, transmutation des métaux en or. dans l ancienne philosophie, on establit la transmutation des élemens les uns aux autres. les fables des anciens sont pleines de… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Transmutation — Trans mu*ta tion, n. [F. transmutation, L. transmutatio. See {Transmute}.] 1. The act of transmuting, or the state of being transmuted; as, the transmutation of metals. [1913 Webster] 2. (Geom.) The change or reduction of one figure or body into… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • transmutation — trans·mu·ta·tion /ˌtranz myü tā shən, ˌtrans / n 1: a doctrine in property law which allows the conversion of a separate property interest into marital or community property by agreement between spouses or by contribution of marital or community… …   Law dictionary

  • transmutation — (n.) late 14c., from O.Fr. transmutation (12c.), from L.L. transmutationem (nom. transmutatio) a change, shift, noun of action from L. transmutare change from one condition to another, from trans thoroughly (see TRANS (Cf. trans )) + mutare to… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Transmutation — (lat.), Umwandlung; in der alchimistischen Kunstsprache die Verwandlung unedler Metalle in edle; Transmutationstheorie, s. Deszendenztheorie …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Transmutation — См. Трансмутация Термины атомной энергетики. Концерн Росэнергоатом, 2010 …   Термины атомной энергетики

  • Transmutation — Transmutation,die:⇨Umwandlung …   Das Wörterbuch der Synonyme

  • transmutation — transformation, metamorphosis, conversion, transmogrification, transfiguration (see under TRANSFORM) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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