What is Carbon-14?
'''Carbon-14''' is an [[isotope]] of the element [[carbon]], so named because it has an [[atomic mass]] of 14. It has an [[atomic nucleus]] containing 8 [[neutrons]] and 6 [[protons]]. 6 is the [[Atomic number]] for all carbon isotopes. Carbon-14 is also called “carbon 14” or “radiocarbon”, or in symbols: <sup>14</sup>C, or <sup>14</sup><sub>6</sub>C, or C<sup>14</sup>. Carbon 14 is the only radioactive isotope of carbon found in nature. It is generated in the Earth’s atmosphere by [[Cosmic rays]] and decays with a [[Half-life]] of about 5700 years. This long half life makes Carbon 14 exist for enough time to be detected. Other isotopes of carbon are either stable, or have a short half life. The amount of carbon 14 that remains after the death of a living thing is a measure of that time. This is useful for as long as 60,000 years. This measurement is [[radiocarbon dating]]. [[Neutron]]s in cosmic rays collide with [[nitrogen]] in the atmosphere and the collision produces carbon 14 and [[hydrogen]]. Plants and other living things take up carbon in the [[carbon cycle]]. When a thing dies, there is no source of carbon, and the carbon 14 in the body decays to nitrogen (and also to [[electron]]s, [[antineutrino]]s, and [[gamma rays]]). {{-}} {{chem-stub}} [[Category:Isotopes]] [[Category:Carbon]]