Question

The radioactive nuclide that has been used in determining the age of historical wooden artifacts is ____________ .

Short answer

The radioactive nuclide used in determining the age of historical wooden artifacts is Carbon-14 or \(^{14}\)C.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Radiocarbon Dating

Radiocarbon dating is a method used to determine the age of an object containing organic material by measuring the amount of carbon-14 still present in the object. Carbon-14, or ^(14)C, is a radioactive isotope of carbon that is formed in the atmosphere and then absorbed by organisms, including plants and trees.

Identify the Radioactive Nuclide

Since we are looking for the radioactive nuclide used in dating historical wooden artifacts, we must identify the nuclide involved in the radiocarbon dating process. As mentioned earlier, the radioactive isotope of carbon involved in this dating process is carbon-14 or ^(14)C. So the radioactive nuclide used in determining the age of historical wooden artifacts is Carbon-14 or ^(14)C.

Key concepts

Radioactive Nuclide

A radioactive nuclide, also known as a radioisotope, is an atom that has excess nuclear energy, making it unstable. This instability makes the atom 'radioactive', leading it to emit radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves as it transforms into a more stable state. One significant aspect of radioactive nuclides is their half-life, which is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay. The concept of half-life is critical in radiocarbon dating, as it is used to calculate the age of artifacts.

As these nuclides transform, they can emit several types of radiation, including alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. One particular radioactive nuclide, Carbon-14 or ^(14)C, is central to the dating of organic materials and has a half-life of approximately 5,730 years, long enough to provide a time window into historical and prehistoric phenomena yet short enough to deliver meaningful data about relatively recent events in the geological timeline.

Carbon-14

Carbon-14, denoted as ^(14)C, is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope of carbon. It is produced in the upper atmosphere when cosmic rays collide with nitrogen atoms, creating ^(14)C from ^(14)N. This carbon isotope is then absorbed by living organisms during their life cycle. Once an organism dies, it stops assimilating ^(14)C, and the existing ^(14)C within the organism begins to decay at a known rate, characterized by its half-life. This is why ^(14)C is invaluable for determining the age of formerly living things, including historical wooden artifacts.

In the context of the exercise, understanding that ^(14)C is the key nuclide in radiocarbon dating is essential. This knowledge sets the stage for analyzing historical and archaeological samples, ensuring the precise assessment of their age. Scientists measure the remaining ^(14)C in a sample and, using its half-life, calculate how long it has been since the organism stopped taking in ^(14)C, which reveals the time since its death.

Age Determination of Artifacts

The process of age determination of artifacts using radiocarbon dating is a significant tool in archaeology and historical research. Once it is established that Carbon-14 is the nuclide involved in dating, scientists can employ this method to measure the age of objects that were once part of the biosphere. This method is particularly effective for dating wooden artifacts, textiles, bones, and any other materials containing organic carbon.

To determine the age of an artifact, scientists measure the ratio of ^(14)C to the non-radioactive isotopes, ^(12)C and ^(13)C, in the sample. The original ratio would have been the same as the ratio in the atmosphere during the organism’s life. Since the decay rate of ^(14)C—the half-life—is known, comparing the current ^(14)C level to the original level allows archaeologists to calculate the time that has passed since the death of the organism, effectively pinpointing the age of the artifact. Advances in calibration techniques further enhance the precision of radiocarbon dating, making it an indispensable tool for understanding our past.