Why is carbon dating possible?

Name: Why is carbon dating possible?
Brand: Quizplus
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Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Carbon dating is possible because there is a constant ratio of carbon-12 (C-12) to carbon-14 (C-14) in living organisms, but this ratio changes at a predictable rate after an organism dies. As the C-14 begins to decay into nitrogen-14 (N-14), the ratio of C-12 to C-14 decreases. By measuring the remaining amount of C-14 in a sample and comparing it to the initial ratio of C-12 to C-14, scientists can determine the age of the sample.

Why Is Carbon Dating Possible