What is Radiocarbon Dating - Clear Introduction

Radiocarbon Dating is a process used to determine the age of an ancient object by measuring the radiocarbon content .This technique was developed in the late 1940's by Williard F.Libby , an American chemist . Archeologists and Geologists have used it extensively.They have learned much about prehistoric human beings , animals and plants that lived upto 50,000 years ago.

Radiocarbon atoms , like all other radioactive substances, decay ( break down by releasing particles ) at an exact and uniform rate .Half the radiocarbon decays , turning back into nitrogen , in about 5,730 years. Therefore, radiocarbon is said to have a half-life of that period of time.After about 11,460 years , a forth of the original amount of radiocarbon remains. After another 5,730 years , only an eight remains , and so on.

The radiocarbon in the tissues of living organism decays extremely slowly,however it is continously renewed as long as the organism continuous to live.After the organism dies , it no longer takes in air or food. Therefore , it no longer absorbs radiocarbon. The radiocarbon already in the tissues continuous to decrease in a constant rate This study decay at a known rate - a half life of about 5730 years enables scientists to determine an objects age.

In one method of radiocarbon dating , scientists burn a piece of the object and convert it to carbon dioxide gas.The carbon dioxide is purified and the amount of radiocarbon n the purified carbon dioxide is measured with radiation counters .

These instruments detect the electrons released by the radiocarbon atoms , as the atoms change back onto nitrogen atoms.The number of electrons emitted indicate the radiocarbon content.