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In Biology / High School | 2014-04-18

Why is a uranium isotope often used rather than \(^ {14}C\) in radiometric dating to determine the age of Earth?

Asked by hanuhbaybay

Answer (3)

because it gives a accurate age of rocks and other things found in the earth

Answered by pootahbread | 2024-06-10

carbon 14 half life is in the thousands of years while uranium is many millions of years ;

Answered by elizabethkate66 | 2024-06-15

Uranium isotopes, especially uranium-238, are commonly used in radiometric dating because of their long half-lives, allowing for the dating of rocks and materials that are billions of years old. In contrast, carbon-14 has a much shorter half-life, making it ineffective for dating ancient geological samples. By measuring the ratios of uranium to stable lead isotopes, scientists can accurately determine the ages of rocks and Earth itself.
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Answered by pootahbread | 2024-11-08