The Radioisotope ¹⁴C Can Be Used as a Research Tracer

Question

The radioisotope ¹⁴C can be used as a research tracer because it ____. A) decays to ¹²C B) has a different number of protons than ¹²C C) has fewer neutrons than ¹²C D) behaves the same chemically as ¹²C E) has six carbons and six neutrons

Accepted Answer

Radioisotope 14C behaves the same chemically as 12C because it has the same number of protons and electrons, which are responsible for chemical reactions. The only difference is the number of neutrons, which makes it radioactive and useful as a tracer in biological and chemical research. Therefore, option D is the correct choice. Options A, B, C, and E are incorrect because they do not represent the unique property of 14C that makes it a useful tracer.

The radioisotope 14C can be used as a research tracer because it ____.

The radioisotope ¹⁴C can be used as a research tracer because it ____.