[westminster_science_idiot]

Is it possible to separate a molecule of hydrogen chloride to create helium and sulphur atoms?

I ask because as it is covalently bonded, the hydrogen is attached to the chloride by two electrons. surely it would be possible to separate the two and remove the shared chlorine electron and leave it in the outer ring of the hydrogen (now helium as it has two electrons). the chlorine would then have an electronic configuration of 2,6,8?

or am is it all a little fantastical?

[Borek]

or am is it all a little fantastical?

Not fantastical, completely off I am afraid.

It is nucleus charge that defines element, not number of electrons that happen to orbit it at the moment. So you would have to transfer proton (and at least one neutron for stability) from Cl nucleus to H nucleus.

[westminster_science_idiot]

point still stands then, just slightly changed... from a molecule of hydrogen chloride then it would be possible to make helium and sulphur, but you would have to transfer protons as well?

[renge ishyo]

The return of alchemy!

Nah, it won't work in any practical sense. Protons are not easily transferred from one atom to another like electrons are.