What is the Carbon -14 and what is its use?
Thanks!
2007-03-11 15:58:29 · 6 answers · asked by That girl... 6 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
An isotope of a Carbon atom containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its radioactive decay over time is very predictable, and therefor is used to date how old something containing carbon is.
2007-03-11 16:02:22 · answer #1 · answered by pentech_99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carbon-14 is a naturally occuring radioactive isotope of carbon, with a half life of about 5700 years. Living creatures continually consume and produce C-14, but stop once they expire. Given the known half-life (C-14 emits beta particles to form N-14), a measure of the C-14 remaining vs. the amount known to be in nature can be used to determine the age of formerly living things, up to about 50,000 years ago (10 half-lives, at which point the remaining radioactivity can usually not be distinguished from background radiation).
2007-03-11 16:03:37 · answer #2 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carbon-14, 14C, or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon discovered on February 27, 1940, by Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben. Its nucleus contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is used extensively as basis of the radiocarbon dating method to date archaeological, geological, and hydrogeological samples.
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2007-03-11 16:02:45 · answer #3 · answered by sheila_0123 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radio carbon method is the method estimating the age of old objects containing organic substancesaccording to the measurement of the decay of a particular type of carbon,C-14,in theses objects.
2007-03-11 16:59:38 · answer #4 · answered by Arti k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Carbon 14 is an isotope of normal carbon, it is formed by cosmic ray radiation. It it used as a means of dating objects, as it has a very long half life.
2007-03-11 16:04:21 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Hex Vision 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's a type of carbon which is used to determine the age of things.
2007-03-11 16:06:01 · answer #6 · answered by Hamid P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋