Carbon-14 dating, also called radiocarbon dating, method of age determination that depends upon the decay to nitrogen of radiocarbon (carbon-14). Because carbon-14 decays at this constant rate, an estimate of the date at which an organism died can be made by measuring the amount of its residual radiocarbon.

How does carbon dating work in simple terms?

The basis of radiocarbon dating is simple: all living things absorb carbon from the atmosphere and food sources around them, including a certain amount of natural, radioactive carbon-14. When the plant or animal dies, they stop absorbing, but the radioactive carbon that theyve accumulated continues to decay.

What is carbon dating What are its uses?

Radiocarbon dating is a technique used by scientists to learn the ages of biological specimens – for example, wooden archaeological artifacts or ancient human remains – from the distant past. It can be used on objects as old as about 62,000 years. Heres how it works.

Can atoms be rearranged?

Atoms can combine in different numbers and in different ways to make different molecules. Atoms and molecules make up all of the different substances, including solids, liquids, and gases that are all around us. Models can be used to represent atoms and these models can be rearranged to represent different molecules.

Can ammonia be broken down?

ammonia decomposition reaction - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help. In this chemical reaction, two molecules of ammonia (NH3) are decomposed, or broken down, into one molecule of nitrogen (N2) and three molecules of hydrogen (H2).

Can carbon be broken down by a chemical change?

There is no chemical process that will break down carbon into simpler substances because carbon is an element.