2006-11-22 11:57:49 · 3 answers · asked by pinaysunrise 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Yes. All living things are constantly exchanging carbon-14 with the environment, so the ratio is the same. When an organism dies, the exchange stops, allowing the time of death to be estimated based on the amount of C-14 that has not decayed.
2006-11-22 17:03:20 · answer #1 · answered by rb42redsuns 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes - C-14 is constantly undergoing radioactive decay (beta decay) BUT the N-14 contained in the cells of living tissue are constantly absorbing neutrons from cosmic radiation and forming the C-14 (plus a H-1) again. As long as the organism is alive and making new cells the C-14 remains constant. When the organism dies, the C-14 continues to decay at a set rate and is no longer replenished. Then the activity of the C-14 left in the "dead" organism can be compared to the activity of the C-14 that is in a "live" organism and the elapsed time can be calculated (hence, "C-14 dating").
2006-11-22 21:10:48 · answer #2 · answered by The Old Professor 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Right except that N-14 doesn't absorb a neutron and become C-14, if it did it would become N-15
and that isn't radioactive either.
2006-11-23 02:25:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋