Question

7. Which two substances do geologists use in radiocarbon dating?

Answer 1

Carbon -14 and Carbon 12 are the two substances geologists use in radiocarbon dating.

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

Radiocarbon dating denotes the determination process of the age of fossils of plants or animals based on the ratio of carbon atoms 14 to 12. Carbon naturally exists in two non-radioactive isotopes, Carbon-12 and Carbon-13 and one radioactive isotope carbon 14. The carbon 14 gets released on continuous cosmic reaction with atmospheric nitrogen.

These carbon 14 will be absorbed by the living plants and from the plants. Then, it will enter inside the animals which consume the plants. But once the plants and animals died, they ceased to intake carbon-14. In their living state, the ratios of carbon atoms 14 to 12 in them tends to similar to the ratio in atmosphere.

But after they die, the ratio of C-14 to C-12 will be varying from the ratio of C-14 to C-12 in atmosphere as the concentration of C-14 will be decreasing in the dead animals and plants. Thus using this ratio, geologists can find the fossil's age.