A. A solidified lava flow containing zircon mineral crystals is present in a sequence of rock layers that are exposed in a hillside. A mass spectrometer analysis was used to count the atoms of uranium-235 and lead-207 isotopes in zircon samples from the lava flow. The analysis revealed that 71% of the atoms were uranium-235, and 29% of the atoms were lead-207. Refer to Figure 8.10 to help you answer the following questions. 1. About how many half-lives of the uranium-235 to lead-207 decay pair have elapsed in the zircon crystals?. 2. What is the absolute age of the lava flow based on its zircon crystals? Show your calculations. 3. What is the age of the rock layers beneath the lava flow? 4. What is the age of the rock layers above the lava flow?
A. A solidified lava flow containing zircon mineral crystals is present in a sequence of rock layers that are exposed in a hillside. A mass spectrometer analysis was used to count the atoms of uranium-235 and lead-207 isotopes in zircon samples from the lava flow. The analysis revealed that 71% of the atoms were uranium-235, and 29% of the atoms were lead-207. Refer to Figure 8.10 to help you answer the following questions. 1. About how many half-lives of the uranium-235 to lead-207 decay pair have elapsed in the zircon crystals?. 2. What is the absolute age of the lava flow based on its zircon crystals? Show your calculations. 3. What is the age of the rock layers beneath the lava flow? 4. What is the age of the rock layers above the lava flow?
Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: Define and explain the differences between the following terms. a. law and theory b. theory and...
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Transcribed Image Text:SOME ISOTOPES USED FOR RADIOMETRIC DATING
Daughter
Isotope (D)
Half-Lives (T½)
Useful Dating Range
Parent
Isotope (P)
Materials Dated
Newly formed
crystal
Uranium-238
4.5 billion years Zircon
713 million years Zircon
Lead-206
ages > 10 m.y.
100
Uranium-235
Lead-207
ages > 10 m.y.
0000000o
o00000
15.9%
decayed to
daughter
Potassium-40 Argon-40
Biotite, muscovite,
whole volcanic rock
1.3 billion years
ages > 50,000 yr
Shells, limestone,
organic materials
ages 100-60,000 yr
Carbon-14
Nitrogen-14
5730 years
84.1
29.3%
decayed
70.7
Parent
Atoms (P)
000000000e
50%
decayed
RADIOACTIVE
DECAY
50.0
Daughter
Atoms (D)
25.0
75% decayed
87.5%
decayed
12.5
93.8%
decayed
96.9%
decayed
6.2
3.1
14
2
3
4
5
6
Half-Lives (T1) Elapsed
DECAY PARAMETERS FOR ALL RADIOACTIVE DECAY PAIRS
Percent of
Parent
Atoms (P)
Percent of
Daughter
Atoms (D)
Half-Lives
Elapsed
Age
0.000 x T
0.015 x T
0.031 x Ty
0.062 x Ty
0.125 x T
0.250 x T
0.500 x T2
1.000 x Ty2
100.0
0.0
98.9
1.1
1/64
97.9
2.1
1/32
95.8
4.2
1/16
91.7
8.3
1/8
84.1
15.9
1/4
70.7
29.3
1/2
50.0
50.0
1
1'½
1.500 x T,
2.000 x T
3.000 x T
4.000 x Ty
5.000 x Ty2
35.4
64.6
25.0
75.0
2
12.5
87.5
3
6.2
93.8
4
3.1
96.9
Percent of Parent (P) Atoms Remaining

Transcribed Image Text:A. A solidified lava flow containing zircon mineral crystals is present in a sequence of rock layers that are exposed in a
hillside. A mass spectrometer analysis was used to count the atoms of uranium-235 and lead-207 isotopes in zircon samples
from the lava flow. The analysis revealed that 71% of the atoms were uranium-235, and 29% of the atoms were lead-207.
Refer to Figure 8.10 to help you answer the following questions.
1. About how many half-lives of the uranium-235 to
lead-207 decay pair have elapsed in the zircon crystals?
2. What is the absolute age of the lava flow based on its zircon crystals? Show your calculations.
3. What is the age of the
rock layers beneath the lava flow?
4. What is the age of the
rock layers above the lava flow?
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