When it comes to dating ancient artifacts or determining the age of certain materials, scientists rely on a process called carbon dating. This technique is based on the radioactive decay of carbon-14, a specific isotope of carbon.

Carbon-14, or C-14 for short, is an unstable isotope of carbon that is present in the atmosphere. It is formed when cosmic rays interact with nitrogen gas in the upper atmosphere, creating a radioactive form of carbon. This radioactive carbon is then taken up by plants through photosynthesis and enters the food chain.

Because living organisms constantly exchange carbon with their environment, the ratio of carbon-14 to stable carbon isotopes remains relatively constant during an organism's lifetime. However, once an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon-14, and the existing carbon-14 begins to decay at a known rate.

By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in a sample, scientists can estimate the age of the material. The half-life of carbon-14 is approximately 5730 years, which means that after this time, half of the original carbon-14 will have decayed. By comparing the ratio of carbon-14 to stable carbon isotopes in a sample to the known ratio in the atmosphere, scientists can calculate the age of the sample.

C-14 dating is particularly useful for dating organic materials, such as bones, wood, and textiles, that are up to about 50,000 years old. Beyond this time frame, the amount of remaining carbon-14 becomes too small to accurately measure. For older materials, scientists may turn to other isotopes with longer half-lives, such as uranium-238 or potassium-40, which can be used to date rocks and minerals.

In conclusion, the isotope of carbon used for dating is carbon-14 (C-14). This technique has revolutionized the field of archaeology and has allowed scientists to accurately determine the age of ancient artifacts and archaeological sites. By understanding the principles of carbon dating, researchers can piece together the timeline of human history and gain valuable insights into our past.

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