which action would result in the more (financially) valuable product: taking one proton from each nucleus in a sample of gold or adding one proton to each gold nucleus?

Taking a proton (p) away

79 AU - 1p = atomic number 78??

Adding a Proton

Au79 + 1p = ??80

Which is more valuable?????

Platinum and mercury. Is platinum more valuable?

Yes correct

thank you

No worries

To determine which action would result in a more financially valuable product, we need to consider the impact on the element and its properties.

Taking one proton from each nucleus in a sample of gold (Au) would result in an atomic number of 78, which corresponds to the element platinum (Pt). Platinum is a precious metal that is often valued higher than gold due to its rarity and industrial applications. Therefore, taking a proton away from gold and converting it to platinum would likely result in a more financially valuable product.

On the other hand, adding one proton to each gold nucleus would result in an atomic number of 80, which does not correspond to any well-known element. It is important to note that adding or removing protons from an element's nucleus can significantly alter its properties and may lead to the formation of entirely new elements that may be more or less valuable. In this case, since the resulting element is not well-defined, it is difficult to determine its financial value.

In summary, taking one proton from each gold nucleus to convert it into platinum would likely result in a more financially valuable product than adding one proton to create an undefined element.