And how do we know If something is millions of years old other than carbon dating and what is carbon dating
In: Chemistry
> what is carbon dating
Carbon dating rests on Carbon’s existence in (at least) two forms — a radioactive one (C14) and a stable one (C12). C14 experiences radioactive decay, resulting in losing its 2 extra neutrons and becoming C12 over 5730 years. The initial ratio of the two isotopes is known and it is also known that over 5730 years (+/- 50) that half of the C14 will lose its extra neutrons and become chemically indistinguishable from C12.
Carbon dating is only accurate for up to 60,000 years though. For longer periods, there are other radioactive isotopes for other elements that are used. For example, half the concentration of Uranium 238 will decay into Plutonium in 4.3 billion years.
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