Radiocarbon dating uses carbon isotopes. Carbon-14 is an unstable isotope of carbon that will eventually decay at a known rate to become carbon-12. Cosmic rays – high-energy particles from beyond the solar system – bombard Earths upper atmosphere continually, in the process creating the unstable carbon-14.

What are the 3 types of nuclear radiation?

The three most common types of radiation are alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.

Which nuclei are unstable?

Too many neutrons or protons can upset this balance making the nucleus unstable. Elements with fewer protons, such as the ones near the top of the periodic table, are stable if they have the same number of neutrons and protons. For example carbon, carbon-12 is stable and has six protons and six neutrons.