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With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements:
- It is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living.
- The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a)1 only
- b)2 only
- c)Both 1 and 2
- d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements...
The Allahabad High Court recently ordered a “scientific survey”, including carbon dating, of a “Shivling” said to have been found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi after setting aside a lower court order on the issue.
- Carbon dating is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living.
- Living things have carbon in them in various forms. The dating method is based on the fact that Carbon-14 (C-14), an isotope of carbon with an atomic mass of 14, is radioactive, and decays at a well-known rate.
- The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12. The ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the atmosphere is almost static, and is known.
- Plants and animals acquire C-12 and C-14 in roughly the same proportion as is available in the atmosphere.
- When they die, their interactions with the atmosphere stops. While C-12 is stable, the radioactive C-14 reduces to one half of itself in about 5,730 years — known as its ‘half-life’.
- The changing ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the remains of a plant or animal after it dies can be measured, and can be used to deduce the approximate time when the organism died.
- Carbon dating cannot be used to determine the age of non-living things like rocks. Also, the age of things that are more than 40,000-50,000 years old cannot be arrived at through carbon dating.
Hence both statements are correct.
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With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements...
Statement 1: It is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living.
Statement 2: The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.
Explanation:
Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a commonly used method to determine the age of organic materials. This technique relies on the fact that carbon atoms have different isotopes, with the most common being carbon-12 (C-12) and a smaller amount of carbon-14 (C-14).
Carbon-14 is produced in the upper atmosphere through the interaction of cosmic rays with nitrogen atoms. These cosmic rays convert a small fraction of the nitrogen atoms into carbon-14. This carbon-14 then combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2), which is taken up by plants during photosynthesis.
When living organisms consume plants (or other animals that have consumed plants), they also acquire carbon-14. The ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in living organisms is the same as the ratio in the atmosphere. However, when an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon-14, and the existing carbon-14 begins to decay at a known rate.
By measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in a sample, scientists can determine how long it has been since the organism died. This is possible because the half-life of carbon-14 is known, which is approximately 5730 years. By comparing the initial ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 with the ratio in the sample, the age of the material can be estimated.
Therefore, statement 1 is correct as carbon dating is indeed a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials.
Statement 2 is also correct as carbon-12 is the most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere. It accounts for about 98.9% of the carbon atoms in the atmosphere, while carbon-14 is present in much smaller quantities (about 1 part per trillion).
Therefore, both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct, and the correct answer is option C.
Statement 2: The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.
Explanation:
Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a commonly used method to determine the age of organic materials. This technique relies on the fact that carbon atoms have different isotopes, with the most common being carbon-12 (C-12) and a smaller amount of carbon-14 (C-14).
Carbon-14 is produced in the upper atmosphere through the interaction of cosmic rays with nitrogen atoms. These cosmic rays convert a small fraction of the nitrogen atoms into carbon-14. This carbon-14 then combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2), which is taken up by plants during photosynthesis.
When living organisms consume plants (or other animals that have consumed plants), they also acquire carbon-14. The ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in living organisms is the same as the ratio in the atmosphere. However, when an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon-14, and the existing carbon-14 begins to decay at a known rate.
By measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 in a sample, scientists can determine how long it has been since the organism died. This is possible because the half-life of carbon-14 is known, which is approximately 5730 years. By comparing the initial ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 with the ratio in the sample, the age of the material can be estimated.
Therefore, statement 1 is correct as carbon dating is indeed a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials.
Statement 2 is also correct as carbon-12 is the most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere. It accounts for about 98.9% of the carbon atoms in the atmosphere, while carbon-14 is present in much smaller quantities (about 1 part per trillion).
Therefore, both statement 1 and statement 2 are correct, and the correct answer is option C.
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With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements: It is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living. The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements: It is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living. The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements: It is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living. The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for With reference to the Carbon dating, consider the following statements: It is a widely-used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living. The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?.
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