Carbon-14 is continuously generated in the atmosphere by cosmic radiation. Neutrons are ejected from nuclei of the upper atmosphere in collisions with cosmic rays (A). Captured by nitrogen nuclei (N-14), neutrons transform these nuclei into carbon-14 (B).Carbon-14 is continuously generated in the atmosphere by cosmic radiation
What is a radioactive carbon?
Carbon-14 (14C), or radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with an atomic nucleus containing 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are both stable, while carbon-14 is unstable and has a half-life of 5,730 ± 40 years. Carbon-14 decays into nitrogen-14 through beta decay.
How and where is C 14 produced?
Carbon-14 is formed naturally by reaction of neutrons of cosmic ray origin in the upper atmosphere with nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, with oxygen and carbon. Large amounts of C have also been formed in the atmosphere as a result of nuclear weapons explosions.
Is carbon a radioactive substance?
We call forms of elements that have a different number of neutrons, isotopes. For example, carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that has six protons and eight neutrons in its nucleus. In the carbon-14 example, the atom gives off radiation from the nucleus to reach a more stable state.
Carbon-14 is continually formed in nature by the interaction of neutrons with nitrogen-14 in the Earths atmosphere; the neutrons required for this reaction are produced by cosmic rays interacting with the atmosphere.