C–12 ero C–14?

C-12 (carbon-12) and C-14 (carbon-14) are two isotopes of carbon.

- **C-12** is the most abundant carbon isotope, making up about 99% of natural carbon. It has 6 protons and 6 neutrons in its nucleus. It is stable and does not undergo radioactive decay.

- **C-14** is a radioactive isotope of carbon that contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons. It is formed in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen. C-14 has a half-life of about 5,730 years, meaning it decays into nitrogen-14 over this period. Because of its radioactivity, C-14 is commonly used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of organic materials.

The ratio of C-14 to C-12 in a sample can provide valuable information about the age of things like archaeological artifacts, bones, and other organic remains.