Q143
General ScienceChemistry
Which of the following isotopes is used in dating archaeological findings?
- a.${}^{235}U_{92}$
- b.${}^{14}C_{6}$
- c.${}^{3}H_{1}$
- d.${}^{18}O_{8}$
Answer: (B) ${}^{14}C_{6}$
Carbon-14 (${}^{14}C$), also called radiocarbon, is used in radiocarbon dating of organic archaeological materials. It has a half-life of about 5,730 years, making it suitable for dating items up to about 50,000 years old. Uranium-235 is used for geological dating of rocks (millions of years), not archaeological artefacts.