C-14 is an isotope commonly used for dating which types of artifacts?

C-14 is an isotope commonly used for dating which types of artifacts?

• A. An isotope used for dating archeological artifacts
• B. A fuel for nuclear reactors
• C. A tracer in medical imaging
• D. A catalyst in chemical reactions

Answer: (A)

Carbon-14 dating rests on radiocarbon decay in organic materials. C-14 is formed in the atmosphere and taken up by living organisms; after death, exchange with the environment stops and the C-14 left decays with a half-life of about 5,730 years. By measuring the remaining C-14 relative to stable carbon, we can estimate how long it has been since the organism died. This makes it ideal for dating archeological artifacts that were once living, such as wood, bone, parchment, and textiles, within a practical age range (up to tens of thousands of years). Other listed uses—fuel for reactors, tracers in medical imaging, or catalysts—do not involve dating artifacts and rely on different isotopes or applications.

Carbon-14 dating rests on radiocarbon decay in organic materials. C-14 is formed in the atmosphere and taken up by living organisms; after death, exchange with the environment stops and the C-14 left decays with a half-life of about 5,730 years. By measuring the remaining C-14 relative to stable carbon, we can estimate how long it has been since the organism died. This makes it ideal for dating archeological artifacts that were once living, such as wood, bone, parchment, and textiles, within a practical age range (up to tens of thousands of years). Other listed uses—fuel for reactors, tracers in medical imaging, or catalysts—do not involve dating artifacts and rely on different isotopes or applications.