Scientists often use the value of 10 half-lives to indicate when a radioactive isotope will be gone, or rather, when a very negligible amount is still left. This is why radiocarbon dating is only useful for dating objects up to around 50,000 years old (about 10 half-lives).

What is carbon dating Where is it used Class 10?

Radiocarbon dating (also referred to as carbon dating or carbon-14 dating) is a method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon, a radioactive isotope of carbon.

Is carbon 14 harmful to humans?

Carbon-14 is a low energy beta emitter and even large amounts of this isotope pose little external dose hazard to persons exposed. The beta radiation barely penetrates the outer protective dead layer of the skin of the body. 14 C compounds should be handled with gloved hands, and in some cases, with double gloves.