In which field would the chemical process of radiocarbon dating be most beneficial?

Radiocarbon dating is a method used to determine the age of an object containing organic material by measuring the amount of carbon-14 it contains. This process is particularly beneficial in the field of archaeology because it allows archaeologists to date artifacts, fossils, and remains from ancient civilizations. By using radiocarbon dating, archaeologists can build timelines for historical events, understand the age of human activity, and establish connections between different cultures over time.

In contrast, while botany might make use of radiocarbon dating to study the age of plant remains, its primary focus is on plant biology rather than dating historical objects. Chemistry, although it involves understanding the processes behind radiocarbon dating, does not apply the method in a historical or archaeological context. Astronomy studies celestial objects and phenomena, for which radiocarbon dating is not relevant. Thus, archaeology stands out as the field that derives the most benefit from this valuable dating technique.