Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Carbon-14 (¹⁴C): The carbon isotope whose nucleus contains six protons and eight neutrons. This gives an atomic mass of 14 amu. ¹⁴C is radioactive with a half-life of 5730 years (and so this isotope is sometimes called radiocarbon); because of this it is used in radiocarbon dating.

The nucleus of carbon-12 contains six protons and six neutrons, resulting in an atomic mass of 12 amu.		The nucleus of carbon-13 contains six protons and seven neutrons, resulting in an atomic mass of 13 amu.		The nucleus of carbon-14 contains six protons and eight neutrons, resulting in an atomic mass of 14 amu.