Which radioisotope is commonly used for dating organic materials?

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Carbon-14 is commonly used for dating organic materials due to its ability to measure the age of once-living things. This radioisotope is produced in the atmosphere and is taken up by living organisms through processes like photosynthesis and food consumption.

When an organism dies, it stops absorbing Carbon-14, and the amount of this isotope in its tissues begins to decrease at a known rate, known as its half-life, which is approximately 5,730 years. By measuring the remaining Carbon-14 in a sample and comparing it to the expected initial levels, scientists can estimate how long it has been since the organism died, making it an invaluable tool for archaeologists and paleontologists in dating organic remains.

In contrast, other isotopes like Uranium-235 and Potassium-40 are used for dating much older inorganic materials, such as rocks, whereas Iodine-131 is primarily used in medical applications for treating thyroid conditions and isn't suitable for dating in a geological or archaeological context.

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