Question

Radio carbon dating is done by estimating in the specimen (A) the amount of ordinary carbon still present (B) the ratio of the amounts of \({ }^{14}{ }_{6} \mathrm{C}\) to ${ }_{6} \mathrm{C}^{12}$ (C) the amount of radio carbon still Present (D) None of these

Short answer

The correct answer is option (B). Radio carbon dating is done by estimating the ratio of the amounts of \({ }^{14}{ }_{6} \mathrm{C}\) (carbon-14) to \({ }_{6} \mathrm{C}^{12}\) (carbon-12) in the specimen.

Step-by-step solution

Option (A)

This option mentions estimating the amount of ordinary carbon still present in the specimen. This doesn't give us any information about the age of the specimen, as we need a comparison between different isotopes of carbon. This option is not correct.

Option (B)

This option refers to finding the ratio of the amounts of \({ }^{14}{ }_{6} \mathrm{C}\) (Carbon-14) to \({ }_{6} \mathrm{C}^{12}\) (Carbon-12) in the specimen. In radio carbon dating, we indeed estimate the age by measuring the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12. This option seems correct, but let's evaluate option (C) as well.

Option (C)

Option (C) is about estimating the amount of radio carbon (carbon-14) still present in the specimen. However, simply knowing the amount of carbon-14 present doesn't give us information about the age, as we need to compare it with the amount of carbon-12. So, this option is not correct.

Option (D)

This option suggests that none of the given options are correct. Since we have already found option (B) to be the correct method used in radio carbon dating, this option is not valid.

Conclusion

Based on our analysis, the correct answer is option (B). Radio carbon dating is done by estimating the ratio of the amounts of \({ }^{14}{ }_{6} \mathrm{C}\) (carbon-14) to \({ }_{6} \mathrm{C}^{12}\) (carbon-12) in the specimen.