9th grade

Application of Isotopes

Chemistry
Carbon Dating
Acknowledgement
I would like to express my gratitude towards my school, St. Xavier’s
High School, I would also like to extend my gratitude towards our
Principal ma’am Ms. Sakshi Gautam Mishra, for providing me with all
the facility that was required and giving me an opportunity to make this
Presentation fruitful. Last but not the least would like to thank our
Chemistry facilitator Ms. Sakshi for her able guidance and support in
completing my Project.
 Page-1 Cover Page

Page-2 Acknowledgement

Page-3 Index

Page-4 Research Question

Page-5 Introduction

Index Page-6-8 How Is Carbon Dating Done

Page-9 Measuring Isotope Ratio & Calibration

Page-10 Limitations

Page-11 Flowchart

Page-12 Conclusion

Page-13 Bibliography

Page-14 Thank You

Research Questions

S. No Topic Questions

1 Carbon Dating What is Carbon Dating?

How many Carbon Isotopes are there?

2 Carbon Isotopes
Why are Carbon Isotopes used in Carbon Dating?

3 Death and Decay What happens after a living organism dies?

Measuring Isotope How do scientists measure Isotope ratios?

4
Ratios What are the devices used in measuring Isotope ratios?
 Introduction
Carbon dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a method used to
determine the age of an object containing organic material by measuring
the amount of carbon-14 (^14C) it contains. This technique is widely
used in archaeology, anthropology, and geology to estimate the age of
artifacts, fossils, and other organic remains.
How Is Carbon
Dating Done
How is Carbon Dating Done
 Carbon Isotopes:
Carbon occurs in nature as three isotopes:
 Carbon-12 (^12C)
 Carbon-13 (^13C)
 Carbon-14 (^14C)

Carbon-12 and carbon-13 are stable isotopes, while carbon-14 is

radioactive.
 Radioactive Decay:
Carbon-14 is formed in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays
interact with nitrogen-14 (^14N) atoms, converting them into
carbon-14. This radioactive carbon is then incorporated into
carbon dioxide, which is taken up by plants during
photosynthesis. Animals, in turn, obtain carbon-14 by consuming
plants or other animals.
How is Carbon Dating Done
Equilibrium in Living Organisms
While an organism is alive, it maintains a
balance between the intake of carbon-14 from
the environment and the radioactive decay of
carbon-14 within its tissues. As a result, the
ratio of carbon-14 to stable carbon isotopes
(carbon-12 and carbon-13) remains relatively
constant in living organisms.
Death and Decay
Once an organism dies, it no longer takes in
carbon-14 from the environment. The
radioactive decay of carbon-14 continues,
causing its concentration to decrease over
time. By measuring the remaining ratio of
carbon-14 to stable carbon isotopes in a
sample, scientists can estimate the time
elapsed since the death of the organism.
 Measuring Isotope Ratios
Scientists use accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)
or liquid scintillation counting techniques to
measure the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 (or
carbon-13) in a sample. This ratio is then compared
to the initial ratio found in living organisms to
determine the age of the sample.
Calibration
Calibration is necessary because the atmospheric
concentration of carbon-14 has varied over time due
to factors like changes insolar activity. Calibration
curves are created by comparing radiocarbon dates
with dates obtained through other dating methods,
such as dendrochronology (tree-ring dating).
LIMITATIONS
Carbon dating is effective for dating materials up
to about 50,000 years old. Beyond this point, the
amount of carbon-14 remaining becomes too
small to measure accurately. Additionally, the
method is less precise for materials with ages
close to the limit of its applicability.

Despite its limitations, carbon dating has revolutionized

the field of archaeology and provided valuable
chronological information for understanding human
history, prehistory, and the age of geological samples. It is
an essential tool for dating organic materials and
reconstructing past events and environments.
Flowchart
Conclusion
In conclusion, carbon dating stands as a pivotal
and transformative tool in the fields of
archaeology, anthropology, geology, and
environmental science. Its ability to provide
accurate chronological information about organic
materials has revolutionized our understanding of
human history, prehistory, and the natural world.
The principle of radioactive decay in carbon-14,
its incorporation into living organisms, and
subsequent measurement allow researchers to
unravel timelines, reconstruct past environments,
and address a myriad of interdisciplinary
questions.
 Bibliography

Books News Article

“Radiocarbon Dating” by Uchicago, The Hindu, nature
Ofer Bar-Yosef Journal, The New York
“Carbon Dating” by Kaitlyn Times, National Geographic,
Duling Hindustan Times
Thanks!
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