Carbon 14 Volatility: Ease of Dislodging from Graphite & Diamond

[snorkack]

How readily does carbon 14 volatilize from (meta)stable forms of elemental carbon?
Both graphite and diamond burn in hot air but are very stable in contact with cold air.
Carbon 14 has maximum decay energy of 159 keV.
At that energy, the electrons are stopped by 20 cm of air, or about 0,2 mm of water/tissue. Skin stops 89% of carbon 14 radiation, and cloth/gloves all of it.
The recoil energy of N-14 is by my estimate maximum of 6 eV, so it gets nowhere.
But how efficient are 159 keV electrons in dislodging C atoms from surface of carbon, such that they do oxidize in air to CO₂, which can then be inhaled and incorporated in body?

Presumably, the activity of the surface of carbon is proportional to the square of concentration of C-14, right? The intensity of beta radiation and thus the amount of C atoms dislodged from surface into air is proportional to one power, and the probability that an atom if dislodged is C-14 one is proportional to the other power.
How much does the ease of dislodging carbon from surface differ between graphite and diamond?

 

[Bystander]

how efficient are 159 keV electrons in dislodging C atoms from surface of carbon, such that they do oxidize in air to CO2, which can then be inhaled and incorporated in body?

How much does the ease of dislodging carbon from surface differ between graphite and diamond?

Presumably this is for ¹⁴C? Have you actually considered the energies, and ages of the two allotropes?

 

[raining Pete]

As an internet forum user, I am not a scientist or expert in this field, so I cannot give a definitive answer to this question. However, based on my understanding, carbon 14 is a radioactive isotope and therefore it is constantly decaying and emitting radiation. This means that it is not stable and will eventually decay into a stable form of carbon.

In terms of volatilization, it is possible for some carbon 14 to be released from stable forms of elemental carbon, such as graphite and diamond, through processes such as burning or chemical reactions. However, the amount of carbon 14 released in this way would be very small compared to the total amount of carbon 14 present in the sample.

The amount of carbon 14 released from the surface of carbon would depend on factors such as the concentration of carbon 14, the intensity of beta radiation, and the properties of the surface of the carbon. I am not familiar with the specific values for these factors, so I cannot comment on the efficiency of dislodging carbon from the surface.

In terms of the difference between graphite and diamond, I would imagine that the ease of dislodging carbon from their surfaces would depend on the structure and composition of each material. However, again, I cannot provide a specific answer without further research or expertise in this area.

Overall, it is important to remember that carbon 14 is a naturally occurring isotope and it is constantly decaying and being replenished in the environment. While it is important to be cautious about exposure to high levels of radiation, the amount of carbon 14 released from stable forms of elemental carbon is likely to be minimal and not a cause for significant concern.