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Which isotope pairs were originally used to determine the age of the Earth from meteorites? Be specific and be sure to write the numbers and the elements here as listed in Table 1.

Which isotope pairs were originally used to determine the age of the Earth from meteorites? Be specific and be sure to write the numbers and the elements here as listed in Table 1.

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1LR
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Which isotope pairs were originally used to determine the age of the Earth from meteorites? Be specific and be sure to write the numbers and the elements here as listed in Table 1.
Transcribed Image Text:Which isotope pairs were originally used to determine the age of the Earth from meteorites? Be specific and be sure to write the numbers and the elements here as listed in Table 1.
**Table 1. Pairs of radioactive isotopes and representative half-lives as well as sample materials dated:** | Parent Isotope (P) | Daughter Isotope (D) | Half-Lives (T ½) | Materials Dated | |--------------------|----------------------|------------------|-------------------------| | Uranium-238 | Lead-206 | 4.5 billion years| zircon | | Uranium-235 | Lead-207 | 713 million years| zircon | | Potassium-40 | Argon-40 | 1.3 billion years| biotite, muscovite, whole volcanic rock | | Carbon-14 | Nitrogen-14 | 5730 years | shells, wood, bones, limestone | **Explanation of Radioactivity:** Radioactivity is detected using a Geiger Counter, which measures the energy and particles released during decay. Early studies demonstrated that Geiger Counter clicks were proportional to the radioactive atoms in a rock. By knowing the decay rates of isotope pairs, the elapsed half-lives can be calculated, helping to determine the age of rocks. **HOW TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF ROCKS:** As time progresses, parent isotopes decrease while daughter isotopes increase. Geologists measure the % of parent and daughter isotopes to determine how many half-lives have passed, using the decay parameters in Table 2. **Example:** A rock with 50% Carbon-14 and 50% Nitrogen-14 is 5730 years old (1 T ½ of Carbon-14). If it has 75% Nitrogen-14, two half-lives have elapsed, making it 11,460 years old. **Table 2. Decay parameters for all radioactive decay pairs and the age equations for half-lives elapsed:** | % Parent | % Daughter | Half-Lives Elapsed | Age Equation | |----------|------------|--------------------|-------------------| | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 x T ½ | | 91.7 | 8.3 | 1/8 | 0.125 x T ½ | | 84.1 | 15.9 | ¼ | 0.250 x T ½ | | 70.7 | 29.3 |
Transcribed Image Text:**Table 1. Pairs of radioactive isotopes and representative half-lives as well as sample materials dated:** | Parent Isotope (P) | Daughter Isotope (D) | Half-Lives (T ½) | Materials Dated | |--------------------|----------------------|------------------|-------------------------| | Uranium-238 | Lead-206 | 4.5 billion years| zircon | | Uranium-235 | Lead-207 | 713 million years| zircon | | Potassium-40 | Argon-40 | 1.3 billion years| biotite, muscovite, whole volcanic rock | | Carbon-14 | Nitrogen-14 | 5730 years | shells, wood, bones, limestone | **Explanation of Radioactivity:** Radioactivity is detected using a Geiger Counter, which measures the energy and particles released during decay. Early studies demonstrated that Geiger Counter clicks were proportional to the radioactive atoms in a rock. By knowing the decay rates of isotope pairs, the elapsed half-lives can be calculated, helping to determine the age of rocks. **HOW TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF ROCKS:** As time progresses, parent isotopes decrease while daughter isotopes increase. Geologists measure the % of parent and daughter isotopes to determine how many half-lives have passed, using the decay parameters in Table 2. **Example:** A rock with 50% Carbon-14 and 50% Nitrogen-14 is 5730 years old (1 T ½ of Carbon-14). If it has 75% Nitrogen-14, two half-lives have elapsed, making it 11,460 years old. **Table 2. Decay parameters for all radioactive decay pairs and the age equations for half-lives elapsed:** | % Parent | % Daughter | Half-Lives Elapsed | Age Equation | |----------|------------|--------------------|-------------------| | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 x T ½ | | 91.7 | 8.3 | 1/8 | 0.125 x T ½ | | 84.1 | 15.9 | ¼ | 0.250 x T ½ | | 70.7 | 29.3 |
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