Radiouhlík

Radiouhlík, also known as radiocarbon, refers to any of the radioactive isotopes of the element carbon. The most well-known and geologically significant radiouhlík isotope is carbon-14 (¹⁴C). Carbon-14 is naturally produced in the Earth's atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen atoms. This process creates a small but continuous supply of ¹⁴C.

Living organisms absorb carbon from their environment, including this radiouhlík. While an organism is alive, it maintains a relatively constant ratio of ¹⁴C to stable carbon isotopes (¹²C and ¹³C) through metabolic processes. However, once an organism dies, it stops absorbing carbon. The ¹⁴C within its remains then begins to decay radioactively, transforming back into nitrogen-14 with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years.

This decay process forms the basis of radiocarbon dating, a crucial technique in archaeology, paleontology, and geology. By measuring the amount of ¹⁴C remaining in an organic sample, scientists can estimate the time elapsed since the organism's death. This allows for the dating of artifacts, fossils, and geological formations, providing insights into the past. The accuracy of radiocarbon dating is generally considered reliable for samples up to about 50,000 years old, after which the amount of ¹⁴C becomes too small to measure accurately.