Carbon 14 Volatility: Ease of Dislodging from Graphite & Diamond

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the volatility of carbon-14 (C-14) from stable forms of elemental carbon, specifically graphite and diamond. It establishes that both forms can volatilize under certain conditions, with graphite being more reactive than diamond due to differences in surface activity. The maximum decay energy of C-14 is noted as 159 keV, with significant implications for the dislodging of carbon atoms from these surfaces. The efficiency of 159 keV electrons in oxidizing carbon to CO2, which can be inhaled, is a key concern, particularly regarding the differences in behavior between graphite and diamond.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of carbon allotropes: graphite and diamond
  • Knowledge of radioactive decay and beta radiation
  • Familiarity with energy levels in atomic physics, specifically electron energies
  • Basic principles of oxidation and gas exchange in biological systems
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the properties of carbon allotropes and their reactivity
  • Study the effects of beta radiation on carbon surfaces
  • Investigate the mechanisms of carbon oxidation in air
  • Explore the biological implications of inhaling CO2 derived from carbon-14
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for physicists, chemists, environmental scientists, and anyone involved in radiocarbon dating or studying the biological effects of radioactive materials.

snorkack
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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?
 
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snorkack said:
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?
snorkack said:
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?
 

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