Question

Match each of these pairs of parent-daughter isotopes used in radiometric dating to its half-life:

a. Uranium-238 -> Lead-206
b. Potassium-40 -> Argon-40
c. Carbon-14 -> Nitrogen-14
d. Rubidium-87 -> Strontium-87

i. Half-life of approximately 4.5 billion years
ii. Half-life of approximately 5730 years
iii. Half-life of approximately 1.3 billion years
iv. Half-life of approximately 1.25 billion years

Answer 1

Uranium-238 decays to Lead-206 over 4.5 billion years, Potassium-40 to Argon-40 over 1.25 billion years, Carbon-14 to Nitrogen-14 over 5730 years, and Rubidium-87 to Strontium-87 over 1.3 billion years. These isotopes and their respective half-lives enable the dating of natural materials of varying ages through radiometric dating techniques.

Step-by-step explanation:

Here's the match of each parent-daughter isotope pair used in radiometric dating to its half-life based on the provided information:

1. Uranium-238 -> Lead-206: Half-life of approximately 4.5 billion years (i)
2. Potassium-40 -> Argon-40: Half-life of approximately 1.25 billion years (iv)
3. Carbon-14 -> Nitrogen-14: Half-life of approximately 5730 years (ii)
4. Rubidium-87 -> Strontium-87: Half-life of approximately 1.3 billion years (iii)

Through the process of radiometric dating, scientists can determine the age of rocks and other materials based on the decay rates of these isotopes. For instance, the large half-life of Uranium-238 makes it suitable for dating very old materials, such as the oldest rocks on Earth.