Isotopes of carbon

Carbon has three main isotopes: carbon-12 (\(^{12}\text{C}\)), carbon-13 (\(^{13}\text{C}\)), and carbon-14 (\(^{14}\text{C}\)). Each isotope has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons, leading to differences in their atomic masses.

Carbon-12 (\(^12C\)) is a stable isotope of carbon, which is one of the fundamental elements in chemistry and biology. It is the most abundant carbon isotope, accounting for about 98.9% of all naturally occurring carbon.

Fractionation of carbon isotopes in oxygenic photosynthesis refers to the differential uptake and incorporation of carbon isotopes (\(^{12}C\) and \(^{13}C\)) by photosynthetic organisms, primarily plants and cyanobacteria, during the process of converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic carbon compounds using sunlight.

Isotopically pure diamond refers to a diamond that is composed entirely of one stable isotope of carbon, typically carbon-12 (C-12). Natural diamonds contain a mixture of carbon isotopes, mainly carbon-12 and carbon-13, with trace amounts of carbon-14 present due to cosmic radiation.