Isotopes and Radiometric Dating

Flashcards about isotopes and radiometric dating based on lecture notes.

What is an isotope?

Various forms of an element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.

How do isotopes differ?

They differ in their stability; unstable isotopes emit alpha particles and electrons.

What happens to the radiocarbon in living organisms?

The relative amount of Carbon-14 in their body is approximately equal to the concentration of Carbon-14 in the atmosphere.

What happens when an organism dies regarding Carbon-14?

The ratio between Carbon-14 and Carbon-12 will decline as Carbon-14 gradually decays back to Nitrogen-14.

How is radiocarbon dating performed?

Comparing the ratio of the Carbon-14 concentration found in an object to the amount of Carbon-14 in the atmosphere.

What is the age limit for radiocarbon dating?

Less than 50,000 years old.

What is half-life?

The time it takes for half of the original concentration of an isotope to decay back to its more stable form.

What is a radioactive isotope?

An atom with an unstable nucleus, characterized by excess energy available that undergoes radioactive decay and creates most commonly gamma rays, alpha or beta particles.

What is radiocarbon dating?

Determining the age of an object by comparing the ratio of the 14C concentration found in it to the amount of 14C in the atmosphere.