* Carbon-12 (¹²C): This is the most abundant isotope of carbon, making up about 98.9% of all carbon found in nature. It has 6 protons and 6 neutrons.
* Carbon-13 (¹³C): This is a stable isotope of carbon, making up about 1.1% of naturally occurring carbon. It has 6 protons and 7 neutrons.
* Carbon-14 (¹⁴C): This is a radioactive isotope of carbon with 6 protons and 8 neutrons. It decays with a half-life of 5,730 years and is used for radiocarbon dating.
Other isotopes of carbon exist, but they are all radioactive and very short-lived. They are not found naturally and are produced in nuclear reactions.
Here's a summary of the key isotopes of carbon:
| Isotope | Protons | Neutrons | Abundance | Half-life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¹²C | 6 | 6 | 98.9% | Stable |
| ¹³C | 6 | 7 | 1.1% | Stable |
| ¹⁴C | 6 | 8 | Trace | 5,730 years |
Let me know if you'd like to learn more about specific isotopes of carbon or radiocarbon dating!
