Radiocarbon is produced in the atmosphere as a result ofa)collision be...
Collision between fast neutrons and nitrogen nuclei present in the atmosphere
The neutrons these are produced in atmosphere from the sun radiation i.e.cosmic rays. So that the obtained neutron is then reacts with the nitrogen which is present in the atmosphere and produce radioactive element.
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Radiocarbon is produced in the atmosphere as a result ofa)collision be...
The correct answer is option 'A': collision between fast neutrons and nitrogen nuclei present in the atmosphere.
Explanation:
Radiocarbon is a radioactive isotope of carbon with an atomic mass of 14, known as carbon-14 (C-14). It is produced in the atmosphere through a series of reactions involving cosmic rays and atmospheric gases.
1. Cosmic rays: Cosmic rays are high-energy particles, mainly protons and atomic nuclei, that originate from outer space. These cosmic rays constantly bombard the Earth's atmosphere from all directions.
2. Collisions with nitrogen: When cosmic rays enter the Earth's atmosphere, they collide with atoms and molecules present in the atmosphere. These collisions can cause the ejection of neutrons from the cosmic ray particles.
3. Collision with nitrogen nucleus: One of the most common collisions is between a cosmic ray particle and a nitrogen nucleus (N-14) in the atmosphere. This collision results in the ejection of a proton from the nitrogen nucleus, leaving behind a carbon-14 nucleus.
4. Formation of radiocarbon: The ejected proton combines with a neutron from the cosmic ray particle to form a new atom, hydrogen-1 (H-1), which is a stable isotope of hydrogen. The carbon-14 nucleus, with 6 protons and 8 neutrons, is the radiocarbon formed in this process.
5. Mixing in the atmosphere: The newly formed radiocarbon quickly mixes with the other atmospheric gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), and becomes part of the carbon cycle.
6. Uptake by living organisms: Plants and other photosynthetic organisms take in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. As a result, they incorporate both stable carbon-12 (C-12) and radiocarbon (C-14) into their tissues.
7. Decay of radiocarbon: Once an organism dies, it no longer takes in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The radiocarbon in its tissues starts to decay at a known rate. This decay is the basis for radiocarbon dating, which is used to determine the age of organic materials.
In summary, radiocarbon is produced in the atmosphere through the collision between fast neutrons and nitrogen nuclei. This process occurs due to the interaction of cosmic rays with atmospheric gases and plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle and radiocarbon dating.
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