Question

compare and contrast the characteristics of carbon - 14 by completing the following sentences. structurally, carbon - 14 differs from other carbon atoms because carbon - 14 is radioactive because knowing the half - life of carbon - 14 enables scientists to

Explanation:

Carbon - 14 is radioactive due to an unstable nucleus that undergoes decay. Its half - life allows scientists to date organic materials through radiocarbon dating. Structurally, it has 8 neutrons while most carbon has 6, making it an isotope with a different mass number.

Answer:

1. Carbon - 14 is radioactive because it has an unstable nucleus that decays over time.
2. Knowing the half - life of carbon - 14 enables scientists to perform radiocarbon dating to determine the age of organic materials.
3. Structurally, carbon - 14 differs from other carbon atoms because it has 8 neutrons (while most carbon has 6 neutrons), giving it a mass number of 14 instead of 12 for the most common carbon isotope.