Have we ever managed to "add" a proton to a nucleus? [closed]








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Have chemists or physicists ever managed to "add" a proton to an atom in order to create a new element? For instance, a hydrogen atom has one proton; has anyone managed to give a proton to a Hydrogen atom to create a helium atom (as well as an extra neutron, for stability)?


I would imagine that this would take an immense amount of energy to do, so I would understand if this were not possible. However, even if it isn't currently feasible, is there any theoretical way to do this, possibly with technology that we don't currently have access to?




You do not need the extreme conditions of accelerators or nuclear fusion. Nuclear reactions with protons can be observed even in the pure water of light-water-moderated fission reactors. By collisions of fast neutrons with hydrogen atoms in the coolant $\ce{H2O}$ (i.e. the desired moderator effect), recoil protons are produced which can react with $\ce{^16O}$ to form $\ce{^13N}$ or with $\ce{^18O}$ to form $\ce{^18F}$.
$$\ce{^16O (p, \alpha) ^13N}$$
$$\ce{^18O (p, n) ^18F}$$


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