Question

Half-life period of $C^{14}$ is :

• A. $500years$
• B. $5000years$
• C. $50years$
• D. $5\times {10}^{4}years$

Answer 1

The correct option is B $5000years$

The half-life of a radioactive isotope describes the amount of time that it takes half of the isotope in a sample to decay. In the case of radiocarbon dating, the half-life of carbon 14 is 5,000 years. Scientists use carbon dating when determining the age of fossils that are less than 60,000 years old, and that are composed of organic materials such as wood or leather.