The Carbon 14 (C-14) dating method is a radiometric dating method. A radiometric dating uses the known rate of decay of radioactive isotopes to date an object. This means that if we know the isotope and its rate of decay, then we can calculate how old the substance is.

How can carbon dating be used to determine the age of a fossil?

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years, so carbon dating is only relevant for dating fossils less than 60,000 years old. Carbon dating uses the decay of carbon-14 to estimate the age of organic materials, such as wood and leather.

Is carbon-14 a radioisotope?

carbon-14, the longest-lived radioactive isotope of carbon, whose decay allows the accurate dating of archaeological artifacts. The carbon-14 nucleus has six protons and eight neutrons, for an atomic mass of 14.