In radioactive dating, carbon-14 is often used. This nucleus emits a single beta particle when it decays. When this happens, the resulting nucleus is
A) carbon-15.
B) carbon-13.
C) nitrogen-14.
D) still carbon-14.
E) boron-14.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When carbon-14 decays by emitting a beta particle (an electron), it loses a neutron but gains a proton, thus becoming nitrogen-14. This is because the atomic number (which defines the element) increases by one, changing from carbon to nitrogen, while the mass number remains the same.

In Radioactive Dating, Carbon-14 Is Often Used