Radiouhlíkové

Radiouhlíkové, also known as radiocarbon or carbon-14, is a radioactive isotope of carbon with the symbol 14C. It is naturally occurring in the Earth's atmosphere as a result of cosmic ray interactions with nitrogen atoms. Radiouhlíkové is present in trace amounts compared to the more common isotopes, carbon-12 and carbon-13.

This isotope is widely used in radiocarbon dating, a technique developed in the mid-20th century that allows scientists to determine the age of organic materials. Because radiouhlíkové decays over time with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years, measuring its remaining concentration in archaeological, geological, and paleontological samples can provide information about their age, typically up to about 50,000 years.

In addition to dating, radiouhlíkové has applications in environmental science, archaeology, and biochemistry. Its production primarily occurs in the upper atmosphere, where cosmic rays induce nuclear reactions. Living organisms continuously exchange carbon with their environment, maintaining a relatively constant radiouhlíkové level throughout their life. When an organism dies, intake stops, and the radiouhlíkové begins to decay, enabling age estimation by measuring the remaining radioisotope.

While radiouhlíkové dating is a powerful tool, it requires careful calibration to account for fluctuations in atmospheric radiouhlíkové levels over time. Its accuracy diminishes for samples older than approximately 50,000 years due to the diminishing amount of detectable radiouhlíkové. Overall, radiouhlíkové remains a cornerstone method in understanding historical and prehistorical timelines.