Modern Alchemy? Here’s How Nuclear Reactors Make Gold from Mercury

For many centuries, alchemists searched for a method to produce gold from base metals like lead or mercury. Recently, with nuclear technology, this process has actually become possible! In this article, we’ll show you how scientists can create gold using nuclear reactors and explore the future of nuclear gold production . Plus, we spoke to Doctor of Philosophy Elianne El-Amyouni and Freemason Christopher Earnshaw to learn about the alchemical origins of our obsession with making gold .

How do you get gold from mercury?

Making gold from mercury is possible with a nuclear reactor or particle accelerator. High-speed neutrons collide with mercury atoms to make Hg-197, an unstable mercury isotope. As the isotope decays over its 64-hour half-life, it loses one proton, transforming the isotope into Au-197 (the most stable form of gold).

Section 1 of 5:

Can you make gold from mercury at home?

Download Article

No, you can’t produce gold from mercury at home (unless you own a nuclear reactor). The latest evidence and theories suggest that gold atoms are created in space during supernovae (when massive stars exhaust their nuclear fuel and their cores collapse in violent explosions) or neutron star collisions (when two incredibly dense neutron stars collide with each other). Both of these cosmic disasters generate the heat, pressure, and energy needed to smash lighter atoms together to form new, heavier elements—like gold. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Large nuclear reactors and particle accelerators are the only manmade tools on Earth that can recreate these conditions and make new gold atoms. Unfortunately, these are not commercially available, and only the world’s brightest scientists can access and use them.
- Gold is a pure element, meaning it’s made of only one type of atom and can’t be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means. To change another element to gold (or vice versa) involves altering the makeup of an atom’s nucleus through nuclear reactions.
- But how is gold formed on Earth? Gold isn’t actually made on Earth. Gold atoms from space settled deep inside the planet when it was young and molten and sank toward the core due to their weight. Over time, hydrothermal and geologic processes forced veins of molten material containing gold up toward the surface, where they can be excavated by humans. ^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- In fact, more than 99% of the Earth’s gold is still locked away inside the core of the planet! ^{[3]
  X
  Research source}
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Elianne El-Amyouni is a spiritualist and doctor of philosophy with expertise in historical literature, object symbolism, alchemy, and philosophy.

Christopher Earnshaw is a Freemason with 41 years of experience with the organization.

Section 2 of 5:

Turning Mercury to Gold with a Nuclear Reactor

Download Article

1
Nuclear reactors bombard mercury atoms with neutrons to create gold atoms. The nucleus of an atom of gold contains 79 protons, while the nucleus of an atom of mercury contains 80 protons. When high-speed neutrons from a nuclear reactor or particle accelerator collide with mercury atoms, a complex sequence of nuclear reactions and radioactive decay takes place to remove a proton from a mercury atom, creating a new gold atom. ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- In the following steps, we’ll describe these reactions in more detail. We’re not expecting you to have mercury or a particle accelerator at the ready to do this yourself, so this information is just for entertainment!
- The number of protons in an atom’s nucleus determines its chemical properties (and what element it is). For example, any atom with 79 protons is gold and will behave like all other atoms with the same number of protons.
2
First, a nuclear reactor or particle accelerator energizes a stream of neutrons. In a reactor, the neutrons come from the fissioning of uranium-235 or another neutron source. The neutrons then pass through a collimator (a device that directs the neutron radiation into a narrow, controlled path) and a moderating medium (typically water, which slows the neutrons to facilitate chain reactions) before slamming into the mercury. ^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
U.S. Department of Energy
Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency
Go to source}
- In a particle accelerator, electromagnetic fields accelerate neutrons through a circular or linear vacuum tube until they’re highly charged and ready to collide with another particle or substance. ^{[6]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  U.S. Department of Energy
  Official site for the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides resources related to energy safety, conservation, and efficiency
  Go to source}
3
The neutron collisions create unstable mercury isotopes that decay into gold. Mercury contains seven natural, stable isotopes (isotopes are forms of an element that have the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons): Hg-196, Hg-198, Hg-199, Hg-200, Hg-201, Hg-202 and Hg-204. ^{[7]
X
Trustworthy Source
Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
Go to source} When the isotope Hg-196 absorbs (gains) a neutron from a reactor or accelerator, it becomes Hg-197, which is an unstable mercury isotope. This process is called neutron capture. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Hg-197 then decays into gold through electron capture. In this process, the nucleus absorbs a inner shell electron, converting one of the protons into a neutron and releasing a neutrino. This reduces the number of protons in the nucleus by one, transforming the mercury atom (80 protons) into a gold atom (Au-197).
- The decay takes 64.14 hours because that’s the half-life of Hg-197 (the time it takes for half of a substance to undergo the decay process). ^{[9]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
- How much gold do you get? Unfortunately, this process is not very efficient because Hg-196 only comprises 0.15% of natural mercury. ^{[10]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Science Direct
  Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
  Go to source} This means that the perfect conversion of a kilogram of mercury only yields 0.73 grams of gold. Overall, it takes more time and money to produce the gold than the gold is actually worth.
- As a by-product, Hg-202 and Hg-204 become Hg-203 and Hg-205, which decay into thallium. Other mercury isotopes change into each other and remain mercury.
4
Then, the gold must be separated from the mercury and thallium left over. After the reaction, the mixture largely contains mercury, with some thallium isotopes and gold. There are several ways to filter out the gold:
- Nitric acid: Nitric acid will dissolve mercury and thallium, but not gold. However, nitric acid is incredibly toxic, as are the byproducts this process creates (like mercury vapor).
- A mercury retort: An amalgam of gold and mercury is added to a closed retort (like a furnace) and heated to vaporize the mercury, leaving gold behind. The mercury condenses in a separate chamber, eliminating toxic vapor. ^{[11]
  X
  Research source}

Section 3 of 5:

New Proposals to Turn Mercury into Gold

Download Article

1

One company claims it will make gold while creating clean energy. Marathon Fusion, a startup energy company based in San Francisco, CA, says they plan to create the most stable form of gold (Au-197) from the mercury isotope Hg-198 as a byproduct from creating nuclear fusion energy. Although the process is several years away from testing, researchers expect to produce 2 metric tons of gold per gigawatt of thermal power per year (that’s a lot more than you can get from a particle accelerator!). ^{[12]
X
Research source}
2
The process works by adding mercury to a reactor’s breeding blanket. A breeding blanket is a layer of a nuclear reactor surrounding the core of the reactor. It shields equipment from the intense radiation inside while capturing energy to generate electricity and producing more fuel to power the reaction. ^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics
Go to source} Usually made of lithium, Marathon Fusion is creating a breeding blanket made of a mercury-lithium alloy designed to maximize the nuclear reactions that result in Au-197 production. ^{[14]
X
Research source} Here’s how it works:
- When very fast and energized neutrons collide with the mercury isotopes in the breeding blanket, the Hg-198 isotopes are converted to Hg-197, which is unstable.
- After about 64 hours (the half-life og Hg-197), the unstable mercury isotopes decay into Au-197, or the most stable form of gold.
- This process also produces tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that can power nuclear fusion.
3
There are pros and cons to this new gold-making approach. The biggest downside is that the newly produced gold will be radioactive for about 17.7 years after it’s created, meaning it will need to be stored long-term before being used or handled. Second, all of this success is still just theory. Simulations have shown promising results, but sourcing enriched mercury and actually putting this process to the test are still several years away. If it’s successful, though, there are a few upsides: ^{[15]
X
Research source}
- The process would be environmentally friendly because it produces clean energy and would reduce the need for destructive gold mining activity.
- The gold would create a revenue stream for nuclear power plants, increasing their profitability, drawing investors, and potentially funding further expansion and innovation.

Section 4 of 5:

Why do people want to make gold?

Download Article

1

Gold has historically been a very valuable form of currency. Gold is highly un reactive and will look good as new after centuries or millennia, making it a great metal to use for physical currency (and impressive jewelry or decor). It’s also just rare enough to have value, but not so rare that it’s impractical to find, and it is relatively easy to extract from ore compared to other metals. All of these factors, plus gold’s distinct and mesmerizing color, have made it humanity’s most precious metal for thousands of years. ^{[16]
X
Research source}
2
In today’s markets, gold is also a “safe haven” investment. A “safe haven” is a long-term investment that is expected to retain its value (or increase in value) during times of economic instability. There’s generally always a demand for gold, and its stable value can protect against inflation and diversify investors’ portfolios. As a general pattern, gold prices rise during times of global uncertainty or crises. ^{[17]
X
Research source}
- However, like all investments, gold is not 100% guaranteed to protect against all economic uncertainties.

Section 5 of 5:

The History of Gold Making

Download Article

Humans tried to create gold for thousands of years through alchemy. Alchemy is a Medieval philosophy and pseudoscience that aimed to turn base metals, like mercury, into gold (as well as to create the “philosopher’s stone,” a substance which could cure human diseases and provide eternal life). ^{[18]
X
Research source} As Dr. El-Amyouni explains, “It’s a practice that branched out at some point around the third century into a proto-chemistry where people tried to make literal gold out of metals. Other people used the language as a metaphor for the perfection of the soul. And this all happened in different parts of the world.” ^{[19]
X
Expert Source

Elianne El-Amyouni
Doctor of Philosophy

Expert Interview}
- Dr. El-Amyouni continues, “Some of these pseudoscientists, these alchemists, were experimenting with things before anybody else was, and so much of what we have today in terms of chemical knowledge comes from these early mistakes and experiences by people who were literally just trying to make gold.” ^{[20]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Elianne El-Amyouni
  Doctor of Philosophy
  
  Expert Interview}
- Alchemy faded as a legitimate science in the 17th century as the modern scientific method gained popularity, though some academies secretly studied it as late as the 1770s. ^{[21]
  X
  Research source} As Earnshaw puts it, “Alchemy, which was part mythology and part experimentation, was suddenly made fun of. It was no longer an acceptable science.” ^{[22]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Christopher Earnshaw
  Freemason
  
  Expert Interview}
- Ultimately, since gold atoms can’t be produced through chemical reactions, the alchemists’ dream of turning metals into gold via chemistry was never a reality. But today’s nuclear reactors are almost like modern alchemy—turning base metals like mercury into gold with science so cutting edge, it’s almost like magic.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

You folks have a wonderful sense of humor. Or, are you serious?

TomPN

Top Answerer

This is a serious method of making gold from mercury. However, as stated, it isn't economically viable. A similar process is used to make other artificial elements, such as plutonium, californium, ununoctium, etc.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 15 Helpful 60
Question

Can a molten salt reactor be used for creating gold from mercury because it is safer and cheaper?

Mr c

Top Answerer

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) are nuclear reactors that use molten salt as both fuel and coolant. While they have safety and cost advantages for electricity generation, they are not designed for transmuting elements like gold. Transmuting elements involves nuclear reactions incompatible with MSRs designed for electricity generation.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 0
Question

Can I turn lead into mercury using this method?

Mr c

Top Answerer

You cannot turn lead into mercury using any method. Lead and mercury are distinct chemical elements with different atomic structures and properties, and current technology does not allow for their transmutation.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Tips

Put the spare mercury back in the accelerator and go again! You won't get much more gold, but eventually all of the mercury isotopes will be converted to thallium, which you can sell at $400-$500 per kilogram. Keep in mind that thallium is very toxic.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Both high energy protons and slow/thermal neutrons can produce and damage gold, either converting some gold back into mercury, or leaving a fraction of the gold as platinum (Pt-196) instead.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
This method can be used to make other materials, such as making technetium (a medical tracer) from molybdenum.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

Trustworthy Source

Go to source

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

Elianne El-Amyouni
Doctor of Philosophy

[20]

[21]

[22]

Christopher Earnshaw
Freemason

Log in

Modern Alchemy? Here’s How Nuclear Reactors Make Gold from Mercury

How do you get gold from mercury?

Steps

Can you make gold from mercury at home?

Turning Mercury to Gold with a Nuclear Reactor

New Proposals to Turn Mercury into Gold

Why do people want to make gold?

The History of Gold Making

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories