Safety and legality of carbon-11

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    Carbon Safety
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the safety and legality of handling carbon-11, particularly regarding its radioactivity and the regulations surrounding its ownership and distribution. Participants explore its half-life, implications for human safety, and the practicalities of acquiring this isotope.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the safety of carbon-11 for human handling, considering its radioactivity and whether it can be safely managed with appropriate equipment.
  • Others highlight the short half-life of carbon-11 (20 minutes), suggesting that it is impractical to purchase or distribute it like other materials.
  • There are humorous remarks about the feasibility of ordering carbon-11 online, with references to modern delivery services.
  • One participant notes that carbon-11 is produced in particle accelerators for use in PET scans, emphasizing that it must be used on-site due to its short half-life and that handling requires proper training.
  • Questions arise about the motivations behind wanting to acquire carbon-11, indicating curiosity about its intended use.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of humor and serious inquiry, with no clear consensus on the safety and legality of carbon-11. While some agree on its short half-life affecting its availability, others remain uncertain about the implications of handling it.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects varying levels of knowledge about the regulations and safety protocols associated with radioactive materials, as well as the practical challenges of acquiring carbon-11.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals studying nuclear physics, medical imaging, or regulatory aspects of handling radioactive materials.

Vardaan Bhat
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This is a pretty self-explanatory question; I was wondering how safe carbon-11 is for human beings; is it extremely radioactive and harmful, or safe for the average Joe to handle with the right casing/equipment. Furthermore, is owning this isotope illegal/highly regulated, or can people easily purchase or distribute it? Thanks!
 
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Given that it has a half life of 20 minutes, it's not like you can order it out of a catalog.
 
Vanadium 50 said:
Given that it has a half life of 20 minutes, it's not like you can order it out of a catalog.
I've got three words for you, "Amazon Prime" and "Drone" :smile:
Vardaan Bhat said:
This is a pretty self-explanatory question; I was wondering how safe carbon-11 is for human beings; is it extremely radioactive and harmful, or safe for the average Joe to handle with the right casing/equipment. Furthermore, is owning this isotope illegal/highly regulated, or can people easily purchase or distribute it? Thanks!
So, what are you want to do with it?
 
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Vardaan Bhat said:
Furthermore, is owning this isotope illegal/highly regulated, or can people easily purchase or distribute it?

Within 1 hour, whatever carbon-11 you have will have gone through 3 half-lives, leaving 1/8th of the original amount. After 2 hours you'll have 1/64th left. I doubt there are any vendors beyond some very specialized ones with access to a particle collider.
 
Drakkith said:
Within 1 hour, whatever carbon-11 you have will have gone through 3 half-lives, leaving 1/8th of the original amount. After 2 hours you'll have 1/64th left. I doubt there are any vendors beyond some very specialized ones with access to a particle collider.
I have 3 words for you, "Amazon Prime" and "Collider"...
 
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Sorry, I don't know what you're getting at, Berk.
 
Just some humor...
 
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V50 put me up to it. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Besides, we all want to know that the heck the OP wants this material for...
 
I'd also be interested in the prize ;-).
 
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It is produced in accelerators as isotope for PET scans, but with its short half-life you have to produce and use it directly on site. The amount produced is tiny, you cannot sell it in any market-like environment, and everyone involved in the chain of handling it has proper training. The patient has not, of course, but they don't get dangerous doses.

I'm also curious how that question came up.
 
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