carbon-12
Atomic mass benchmark
Carbon-12 is the most common isotope of carbon, containing six protons and six neutrons.
It serves as the standard for atomic mass—one atom of carbon-12 is defined as having a mass of exactly 12 atomic mass units.
This makes it the reference point against which all other atomic masses are measured.
Elemental variant by mass
- nuclideAtom classified by nucleus
- atomic massWeighted average of isotopes
- mass numberProtons and neutrons combined
- nucleonProton or neutron
proton · neutron · nucleus · atomic mass unit · abundance · radioactive isotope · mass spectrometry · ground state
Central controlling part
- nucleonProton or neutron
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- neutronUncharged nuclear particle
- strong forceSubatomic binding interaction
nuclear physics · spin · magic number · nucleosynthesis · nuclear reaction
Unit for particle weight
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- molar massGrams per mole measurement
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
SI unit · metrology · definition · measurement · atomic scale · molecular weight
Study of carbon compounds
- covalent bondShared-electron atomic link
- tetrahedralHaving four triangular sides
- diamondCrystallized carbon gemstone
- graphiteCrystalline carbon allotrope
fullerene · hydrocarbon · photosynthesis · biochemistry · valence · bonding · graphene · organic molecule
Decaying carbon isotope
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radiocarbon datingDetermining age via isotope decay
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
organic material · chronology · paleontology · fossils · artifacts · geochronology · stratigraphy · Libby
isotope
Elemental variant by mass
- nuclideAtom classified by nucleus
- atomic massWeighted average of isotopes
- mass numberProtons and neutrons combined
nucleon · proton · neutron · nucleus · atomic mass unit · abundance · radioactive isotope · mass spectrometry · ground state · reference standard
nucleus
Central controlling part
strong force · nuclear physics · spin · magic number · nucleosynthesis · nuclear reaction
atomic mass unit
Unit for particle weight
- moleSubterranean insectivore
- molar massGrams per mole measurement
- referenceDirecting attention elsewhere
calibration · SI unit · metrology · definition · measurement · atomic scale · molecular weight
organic chemistry
Study of carbon compounds
- covalent bondShared-electron atomic link
- tetrahedralHaving four triangular sides
- diamondCrystallized carbon gemstone
graphite · fullerene · hydrocarbon · photosynthesis · biochemistry · valence · bonding · graphene · organic molecule
radiocarbon
Decaying carbon isotope
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radiocarbon datingDetermining age via isotope decay
- archaeologyStudy of physical remnants
calibration · organic material · chronology · paleontology · fossils · artifacts · geochronology · stratigraphy · Libby
- nuclear physicsnuclear energy, fission, nuclear fission, neutron, proton
- Isotopeshydrogen-1, helium-3, helium-4, oxygen-16, oxygen-18
- carbon formsgraphite, diamond, diamonds, fullerene, graphene
carbon-12carbon-14
Radioactive isotope for dating
carbon-11 · radiocarbon · radioactive isotope · radioisotope · tritium
carbon, carbons, carbonate, carbonates, carbonated, carbonation, carbonic, carbonize, carbonized