half life
Time it takes for half of an isotope to decay
isotopes
Atoms of the same element having different masses because they contain different numbers of neutrons.
radioactive dating
ratio between the amount of the original isotope and the amount of its decay product
carbon 14 dating
a radioactive isotope with a short half life, that is useful for dating rocks and organic remains
radioactive decay
A spontaneous process in which unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation
parent element
The original element before it turns into another element through decay.
daughter element
the new element that results from the radioactive decay of the parent element
protons
Positively charged particles
neutron
A small particle in the nucleus of the atom, with no electrical charge
electron
A subatomic particle that has a negative charge
element
A pure substance made of only one kind of atom