Radiocarbon dating

Definition

Radiocarbon dating is a technique used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes. It is widely employed in fields like archaeology and geology to date ancient artifacts and fossils.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Radiocarbon dating is based on the radioactive decay of carbon-14 ($^{14}C$).
2. Carbon-14 has a half-life of approximately 5,730 years.
3. Living organisms constantly exchange carbon with their environment, maintaining an equilibrium level of $^{14}C$. After death, this exchange stops, and $^{14}C$ begins to decay.
4. The ratio of $^{14}C$ to $^{12}C$ is measured to estimate the time since death of the organism.
5. Radiocarbon dating is effective for samples up to about 50,000 years old.

Review Questions

• What isotope is primarily used in radiocarbon dating?
• Explain why radiocarbon dating can only be used for organic materials.
• What is the approximate half-life of carbon-14?

Related terms

Half-Life: The time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay.

$\beta$ Decay: A type of radioactive decay where a beta particle (electron or positron) is emitted from an atomic nucleus.

$^{12}$C/$^{13}$C Ratio: The ratio of stable isotopes carbon-12 to carbon-13; often used as a reference in radiocarbon dating.