The decay of which isotope is fundamental to the technique of Carbon Dating?

Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is based on the decay of Carbon-14, an isotope of carbon that is present in the atmosphere and is absorbed by living organisms during their lifetimes. When an organism dies, it stops taking in Carbon-14, and the isotope begins to decay at a known rate, which is characterized by its half-life of approximately 5730 years. By measuring the remaining level of Carbon-14 in a sample and comparing it to the initial levels present during the organism's life, scientists can estimate the time of death, making it a powerful tool for dating archaeological and geological samples.

Carbon-12 and Carbon-13 are stable isotopes and do not undergo radioactive decay; thus, they cannot be used for dating purposes. Carbon-15 also does not play a role in the radiocarbon dating process due to its instability and very short half-life. Therefore, the decay of Carbon-14 is what makes it the fundamental isotope necessary for the technique of Carbon Dating.