Carbon-14 Is Often Used for Carbon Dating, Where Scientists Measure

Multiple Choice

Carbon-14 is often used for carbon dating, where scientists measure the rate of carbon-14 decay to determine the age of items. Carbon-14 contains six protons and eight neutrons. During the process of carbon-14 decay, one of its eight neutrons becomes a proton and an electron is emitted. Which of the following is the BEST explanation of what has occurred?

A) The resulting atom still has an unstable nucleus.
B) The resulting atom is now a different element because the number of protons has changed.
C) The resulting atom is still carbon-14.
D) An ionic bond has formed.