Question

Which isotope of carbon is used for carbon dating?

Answer 1

Isotopes:

The atoms of the same element having the same atomic number but different mass number are known as isotopes.

Isotopes of Carbon:

Carbon has three isotopes:

1. Carbon$-12$
2. Carbon$-13$
3. Carbon$-14$

Carbon dating:

1. Carbon dating is the determination of the age of old material by means of the amount of Carbon$-14$ present in it.
2. Thus, the isotope of Carbon used in carbon dating is Carbon$-14$.