A friend of mine, argued that human bones do not disintegrate into ashes, is this true?

Question

If this isn't true, at what temperature can they can they disintegrate, and if it is true, why can't bones disintegrate?

Answer 1

It's mostly true. The hard part of bone is not really alive and is essentially a network of minerals. The chemical term for it is calcium hydroxylapatite.

When people are cremated, most of the bones have shattered and remain as small broken fragments. After the remains have cooled the bones are often pulverized into a powder. Most crematoriums operate at temperatures of around 900 degrees Celcius.

Like any mineral, if you get it hot enough it will melt. When chemists use synthetic calcium hydroxylapatite to make glass that can bond to human bone, they have to heat it up to about 1350 degrees Celcius (that would be about 2500 Fahrenheit).

Presumably, like most minerals, there is also a temperature that can cause it go convert instantly to a gas instead of a liquid, but I couldn't tell you what that is. Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Not really. If you put chicken bones into Diet Coke, it will disintegrate because it is very acidic--more acidic than straight lemon juice. However, after you drink it, your body breaks it into different components. The phosphoric acid doesn't go right to your bones. That's silly. Still, I never drink Diet Coke and rarely drink soda pop. The Aspartame in diet soda pop is very bad for you. And these drinks contain no nutritive value. You'll be far better off drinking water.

Answer 3

You know very well that at a high enough temp. that bone will disintegrate.