Which of the following statements is accurate regarding radiocarbon dating?
A. The carbon-14 nuclide is used to estimate ages of fossilized organic materials.
B. Carbon-12 is required to determine the amount of decomposition in organic matter.
C. Radon is required to determine fossil ages.
D. It takes 60,000 years to get an accurate isotope reading.

Question

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding radiocarbon dating?
	A.	The carbon-14 nuclide is used to estimate ages of fossilized organic materials.
	B.	Carbon-12 is required to determine the amount of decomposition in organic matter.
	C.	Radon is required to determine fossil ages.
	D.	It takes 60,000 years to get an accurate isotope reading.

festinger · Answer

A. Carbon-14 has a half life of 5700 years. It is useful to determine the age of organic materials that a few thousands years old.

Radon decays too quickly for any use. Carbon 12 is too stable for practical use.