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Isotope-StartingAmountinµCµCafter16 daysµCafter 50 days

Fill in the graph 

first section-Isotope-Half-Life (days) Starting Amount in µC-µCafter16 days-  µCafter50 days

 Iodine 125                                   15000

 Iodine 131               8                   15000

Iodine 131                8                                                        250

Hydrogen 3                                  15000

Carbon 14                                    50000

Phosphorous 32                           15000

Phosphorous 33                           15000

Sulfur 35                                      15000

Chromium 51                                15000

1. Which of these settings should produce the most accurate counting results?

2. Which of the isotopes in the table above would produce the best results when trying to determine the age of something thousands of years old?  Why?

3. Why does an ancient cotton garment contain less Carbon 14 than a piece of cotton made last year?

4. Why is C-14 dating NOT useful in determining whether a piece of cotton fabric was made last week or 2 months ago?

5. Why is C-14 dating NOT useful in determining the age of an metal artifact?

6. How are Phosphorous 32 and Phosphorous 33 different other than half-life?


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