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Gcc Chm152ll: Nuclear Chemistry - Radioactivity, Decay, Dating, And Other Hazards Worksheets Page 7

IV. Radioactive Decay and Dating

Geologists, archaeologists, paleontologists and biologists also use certain radioisotopes to date rocks, fossils,

and artifacts. Notice the difference in half-lives for isotopes used in archaeological dating versus isotopes

used for medicinal purposes (see Table 2 on page 5). Explain why medical isotopes have considerably shorter

half-lives.

Radiocarbon Dating

Click on the link for Radiocarbon dating:

Answer the questions on the first 5 pages on the tutorial

. Notice that many of the pages have interactive

tools to help you in answering the questions. Complete all the questions, including those on the “Applying the

Radiocarbon Decay Curve” (page 5) page. The questions below are found on the indicated pages of the

tutorial.

Stop and do not complete questions when you get to the “What about AD, BC, BCE and BP ages” page.

1. (page 3) The C-14 method cannot be used to confirm the age of a silver goblet from the 1500’s. Explain.

2. (page 5) The smallest C-14 activity that can be measured is about 0.2%. If C-14 is used to date an object,

the object must have died within how many years?

GCC CHM152LL: Nuclear Chemistry

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Gcc Chm152ll: Nuclear Chemistry - Radioactivity, Decay, Dating, And Other Hazards Worksheets Page 7