"Orthogonality" of chemical elements

Chemical elements are said to be immutable at *normal* energies, but not at the energies that are orders of magnitude higher. 


Given that nucleus at *normal* energies gives us the Periodic Table and at *higher* energies becomes unstable, can we say that (with fusion) we will be able to transform an arbitrary chemical element into some other chemical element (if we have enough energy)?




Certainly [nuclear fusion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fusion) and nuclear [fission](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fission) can convert elements into other elements. Indeed, this is how [different elements form](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucleosynthesis) in the first place.


The one issue I have is with your "arbitrary chemical element." You can use fusion to put together lighter nuclei or elements into heavier ones - up to iron, or use fission to divide more massive nuclei into lighter ones.. up to about iron.


The limit here is the [binding energy of the nucleus](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_binding_energy) which maximizes with $\ce{^{56}Fe}$.


In general, though, your point is a good one. Given enough energy (e.g., in a supernova), you can create lots of different elements.


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