Chapter 14, Problem 14PS

Summary Introduction

To determine: The approximate age of the fossil by using the data represented in the graph given in the textbook. It is given that the carbon-14/carbon-12 ratio of a fossilized skull is about 6.25% of that of the skull of a present day animal.

Introduction: To estimate the death date of an organism, archaeologists study the radioactive decay of Carbon 14 in the organic material. Carbon is found in two forms in the organic matter of living organisms: stable form of Carbon 12 and the radioactive isotope Carbon 14. At particular period of time in lifetime of living organism, the ratio of these two carbon forms in the tissue is approximately same. But after the death of an organism the ratio of Carbon 12 to Carbon 14show changes due to the decay of carbon 14 to nitrogen 14 occurs.