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Why was carbon-14 perfect for determining the dates that organisms died?

a.It is only present in mammals.


b.It decays very quickly once an organism has died.


c.It is only found in ancient plants.


d.It is absorbed by every organism while alive, and has a known rate of decay.

User Keelerm
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2 Answers

3 votes

Answer: B.

Step-by-step explanation:

cant be 'A' cause carbon 14 is found in any living organism and mammals are not the only living organism on this planet

cant be 'C' cause ancient plants still replenish carbon 14 molecules and it'd be impossible to now its age when its still alive

couldnt be 'D' cause yeah while alive organisms do absorb carbon 14 that still defeats the purpose of dating with the carbon 14 method cause its still also taking in carbon dioxide, so the carbon-14 molecules will just keep filling until the organism dies. the whole point of dating with carbon 14 is to measure its deplenish (dying) not continual replenish (living)

dont know if that makes any sense to you but yeah 'B' is the answer, if it isnt im stoopid but im not

User Yossale
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3 votes

Answer:

D. It is absorbed by every organism while alive, and has a known rate of decay.

Step-by-step explanation:

It's on Ed

Reason: Carbon-14 occurs naturally in carbon dioxide, so all living things absorb it while alive. in addition, carbon-14 has a very long half-life, so traces of it can be detected in an organisms remain for thousands of years after its death.

User Alan Birtles
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