system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
If the number of protons in an atom determines which element you have, does that mean that if we could manipulate the protons perfectly we could change one element into another?

So the difference in the number of protons and neutrons in atoms account for many of the different properties of elements. But most of the "real world" physical properties of materials - at least the ones we experience and relate to most - are caused by the electrons as well, so does that mean that if we could somehow manipulate the electrons and protons inside an atom, we could transform one element or object into another? (I may be asking a completely stupid question here or maybe I am missing some fundamental rules, but I thought I'd ask anyway so I can learn what I have wrong/right here). Thanks!
gpt
We already do manipulate the protons and neutrons to change elements into other elements, but we do it to release power in nuclear power plants.

Researchers also do bombardment of different elements to create new ones, that is how elements heavier than uranium are made, and everything heavier than uranium is man-made.

Generally speaking, these processes are too expensive to general use, it's almost always easier to mine and refine an element, even expensive ones.  (There are exceptions, like Technetium and Americium, which are used in medicine and in smoke detectors, but in very small amounts.)