Nuclear transmutation (causing atoms of one element to become a different element) is possible using currently-available technology. Suppose you check metals prices and decide to try converting osmium into iridium, and that each atom transmuted requires approximately 9.5 x 10^-12 J of energy. How much money can you expect to make (or lose) when using electricity to convert 5.00g osmium into iridium at today’s prices?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Wow, the data for that aren't very easy to come by.  I'm surprised your teacher asked you to find it.  You can look  in the Aldrich online catalog for small amounts of reagent-grade metals.  They quote $219/gram for iridium powder and $169.50/gram for osmium powder, 99.99% pure.  Probably the better prices are those in the industrial spot-metal market,   I found a precious metals dealer that was offering iridium metal at $1055 per troy ounce, and osmium for $400 per troy ounce, which are better deals, but probably not nearly as pure.

unklerhaukus · Answer

you will loose money