he transformation of an element to another element is done when one element loses protons, and its atomic number becomes equal to the atomic number of the desired element. So, for lead to be transformed into gold, it needs to lose three protons from its nucleus. However, losing a proton is not a chemical reaction at all. Chemical reactions involve electrons being shared, equally or unequally, or gaining and losing electrons by moving from one atom to another. That means that transforming an element into another element is not a chemical reaction and cannot be done chemical. Transforming an element to another element is done through a nuclear reaction, where protons or neutrons are lost. That being said, lead is a very stable element that requires an immense amount of energy to knock a single proton out of its nucleus, so for lead to lose three protons, it needs a huge amount of energy, which is not economically effective because the amount of gold formed is not worth covering the expenses. In conclusion, transforming lead to gold is done through nuclear reactions, which are physical means, and not through chemical reactions, which are chemical means. They require a very large amount of energy and are done using a particle accelerator.
