Question

Radiopotassium dating is used for establishing chronologies of ancient hominin sites. Which of the following statements is/are true of radiopotassium dating?

a. It measures the decay of carbon-14 isotopes.
b. It is effective for dating very recent geological events.
c. It is used to establish chronologies of ancient hominin sites.
d. It relies on the stable decay of potassium isotopes into argon.

Answer 1

Radiopotassium dating, also known as potassium-argon dating, is used to establish chronologies of ancient hominin sites by measuring the decay of potassium isotopes into argon.

Step-by-step explanation:

Radiopotassium dating, also known as potassium-argon dating, is a method used to establish chronologies of ancient hominin sites. It relies on the stable decay of potassium isotopes into argon. This method is effective for dating very old geological events because potassium-40 has a half-life of 1.25 billion years. By measuring the amount of argon-40 gas that escapes from a crushed rock sample, scientists can determine the age of the rock.