Radiocarbon

Definition

Radiocarbon, or carbon-14, is a radioactive isotope of carbon that has six protons and eight neutrons in its nucleus. It occurs naturally in small amounts in the atmosphere and gets absorbed by living organisms.

Related terms

Half-Life: The period required for half the atoms in any given quantity to decay.

Cosmic Rays: High-energy particles from space that create Carbon-14 when they collide with nitrogen atoms in the Earth's atmosphere.

Photosynthesis:

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the aid of chlorophyll. This is how radiocarbon enters the food chain.