Isotopes are atoms of an element that have the same atomic number but different atomic mass, as compared to other atoms. A material is said to be radioactive if it decays into more stable nuclei. All the heavier elements, with an atomic number of more than 83, are radioactive. For elements with lesser atomic numbers, some isotopes are stable, while others may be radioactive.
Carbon is an element and has a number of isotopes. Among these isotopes, C-12 and C-13 (carbon atoms with atomic numbers 12 and 13) are stable, while C-14 is the radioactive isotope. C-14 decays into N-14, along with the emission of an electron (beta decay). C-14 has a half life of 5730 years, which means whatever amount of C-14 is present today, it will decay to 50% of its current value in next 5730 years.
This decay reaction of C-14 and a knowledge of its half-life is used by scientists to determine the age of fossils.
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