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2007-01-12 12:03:10 · 3 answers · asked by †ღChristian♥Girlღ† 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
The first answer is incorrect. Carbon-12 has six protons and six neutrons, for a total weight of 12. It is a stable nucleus. Carbon-14 has six protons and eight neutrons, for a total weight of 14. It is unstable and radioactive, and has a half life of over 5000 years.
2007-01-12 12:10:53 · answer #1 · answered by rozinante 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both have 6 protons and 6 electrons. Both exist throughout the environment and in all living beings.
C-12 has 6 neutrons and is not radioactive. It is also most common, by far.
C-14 has 8 neutrons and is radioactive (it will, in time, break down). It is not known to pose a real hazard to people in the environment because there is so little.
Since the ratio of total carbon to C-14 is known for living things (which constantly bring in new carbon), the time that has passed since a thing has died can be estimated by the ratio still in it.
2007-01-12 20:18:09 · answer #2 · answered by John K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carbon12 has 12 neutrons, while C-14 has 14 nuetrons. Their half-lives will differ, making on isotope a better choice than the other depending on the age of the material to be dated.
2007-01-12 20:08:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋