radiocarbon
Definition
Noun: A radioactive isotope of carbon, specifically carbon-14, which is present in organic materials and used in dating archaeological and geological samples.
Usage
The term "radiocarbon" is used almost exclusively in scientific contexts, particularly in archaeology, geology, and chemistry, to refer to the isotope carbon-14. It is commonly found in the compound term "radiocarbon dating."
Examples
- The scientist measured the radiocarbon in the ancient bone fragment.
- The age of the artifact was determined by analyzing its radiocarbon content.
- Fluctuations in atmospheric radiocarbon levels can affect dating accuracy.
Advanced Usage
- "Radiocarbon clock": A metaphorical term for the process of radiocarbon decay used for dating.
- The radiocarbon clock indicated the sample was approximately 5,000 years old.
- "Radiocarbon calibration": The process of correcting raw radiocarbon ages to calendar years using known data from tree rings or other sources.
- Radiocarbon calibration is essential for converting laboratory results into accurate historical dates.
Variants and Related Words
- Radiocarbon dating (n.): A method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon.
- Radiocarbon dating revealed the manuscript's true age.
- Carbon-14 (n.): The scientific notation for radiocarbon.
Synonyms
- Carbon-14
Notes
"Radiocarbon" itself is not typically used in idioms or phrasal verbs. Its primary use is as a scientific noun, often forming the first part of compound terms like "radiocarbon dating."
Noun
-
a radioactive isotope of carbon
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