Chapter 10, Problem 10.37E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The reason as to why carbon-$14$ is not a good radioisotope for the determination of the age of a coal bed which is several million years old is to be explained.

Concept introduction:

The type of radioactive decay in which an alpha particle is emitted by the nucleus of an atom such that an atom of another element is produced after decay is known as alpha decay. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus. The radioactive decay in which a positron or an electron is emitted is known as beta decay.