Isotope 14C6 is associated with determining the age of fossils.

Explanation:
- Isotopes are variants of a particular chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
- Carbon-14 (14C) is one such isotope of carbon, which is found in the atmosphere and is naturally produced by cosmic ray interactions.
- 14C is unstable and decays over time, transforming into nitrogen-14 (14N) with a half-life of approximately 5730 years.
- This decay process is used in radiocarbon dating, a method used to determine the age of organic materials.
- Fossils, which are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms, often contain organic material such as bones, teeth, or shells.
- By analyzing the amount of 14C remaining in a fossil, scientists can estimate its age.
- The principle behind radiocarbon dating is that living organisms maintain a constant ratio of 14C to 12C (a stable carbon isotope) during their lifetime.
- When an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon from the environment, and the 14C present in its tissues begins to decay.
- By measuring the ratio of 14C to 12C in a fossil and comparing it to the ratio in living organisms, scientists can calculate how long ago the organism died.
- This dating method is particularly useful for determining the age of fossils up to around 50,000 years old.
- It provides valuable insights into the timing of geological events, the evolution of species, and the history of life on Earth.
- Other dating methods, such as potassium-argon dating and uranium-lead dating, are used for older fossils or rocks.
- However, radiocarbon dating using the isotope 14C is a powerful tool for determining the age of more recent fossils and archaeological artifacts.