Carbon dating Flashcards

1
Q

How many isotopes of carbon are there?

A

There are three isotopes of carbon, carbon 12, 13, and 14.

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2
Q

What can carbon-14 be used for?

A

Organisms that were once alive can be dated using an isotope of carbon, carbon-14.

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3
Q

How is radioactive carbon dioxide be formed?

A

The carbon-14 reacts with oxygen to form radioactive carbon dioxide, 14CO2.

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4
Q

Describe the process which proves that carbon-14 can be found in all living things.

A

Plants take in the radioactive carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. When animals eat plants and food, the radioactive carbon passes onto the animals. Carbon-14 then decays by 𝛽-decay. Carbon -14 can be found in all living things.

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5
Q

How are the levels of carbon-14 when living?

A

When living, the level of carbon-14 always stays constant.

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6
Q

How are the levels of carbon-14 when an organism dies?

A

Once a living organism dies, the level of carbon-14 will decrease as it is no longer taking in carbon.

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7
Q

What can be worked out using the half life of carbon-14?

A

Using the half life of carbon-14 it is possible to work out the age of the item.

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8
Q

Why can carbon-14 be used to age ancient materials?

A

As carbon-14 has a very long half life it can be used to age ancient materials that have come from living things such as wood, leather, bone, etc.

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9
Q

Why can carbon dating not be used to date fossils?

A

Carbon dating cannot be used to date fossils as there are many millions of years old and require a radioisotope with an even longer half life.

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