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Multiple Choice
Which statement is true about radiocarbon dating?
A
It is effective for dating materials older than 10 million years.
B
It measures the ratio of $^{12}ext{C}$ to $^{13}ext{C}$ in a sample.
C
It is used to determine the age of once-living materials by measuring the decay of $^{14}ext{C}$.
D
It can be used to date rocks that are billions of years old.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of radiocarbon dating: Radiocarbon dating is a method used to determine the age of once-living materials by measuring the decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 ($^{14}\text{C}$). It is effective for dating materials up to about 50,000 years old, not millions or billions of years.
Clarify the isotopes involved: Radiocarbon dating specifically measures the ratio of $^{14}\text{C}$ to $^{12}\text{C}$ in a sample, not $^{12}\text{C}$ to $^{13}\text{C}$. $^{14}\text{C}$ is radioactive and decays over time, while $^{12}\text{C}$ and $^{13}\text{C}$ are stable isotopes.
Explain the decay process: $^{14}\text{C}$ undergoes beta decay to form nitrogen-14 ($^{14}\text{N}$) over time. The half-life of $^{14}\text{C}$ is approximately 5,730 years, which limits its effectiveness to dating relatively recent materials.
Discuss the limitations: Radiocarbon dating is not suitable for dating rocks or materials that are millions or billions of years old because $^{14}\text{C}$ would have decayed completely over such long timescales. Other methods, such as uranium-lead dating, are used for older geological samples.
Identify the correct statement: The correct answer is that radiocarbon dating is used to determine the age of once-living materials by measuring the decay of $^{14}\text{C}$. This aligns with the scientific principles of the method.