Nuclear reaction

A nuclear reaction was engineered, converting nitrogen (nucleus charge +7) into oxygen (nucleus charge +8) by bombarding it with alpha particles. Ordinary chemical reactions involve the transfer or sharing of electrons, as Lewis had pointed out. Now Rutherford had produced reactions that involved the transfer of particles inside the nucleus.
 Ernest Rutherford England 1919 Nuclear reaction

A nuclear reaction was engineered, converting nitrogen (nucleus charge +7) into oxygen (nucleus charge +8) by bombarding it with alpha particles. Ordinary chemical reactions involve the transfer or sharing of electrons, as Lewis had pointed out. Now Rutherford had produced reactions that involved the transfer of particles inside the nucleus.