Radiocarbon Dating of Shells and Carbonates by Carbon-14 Dating Method (CAT#: STEM-EA-0130-ZJF)

In order to determine the age of an object, radiocarbon dating relies on the unique properties of Carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon found in organic materials. Nature produces the Carbon-14 isotope as a result of cosmic rays bombarding the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere, producing neutrons as they break through the atmosphere, converting nitrogen-14 atoms into C-14. Radiocarbon combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to form carbon monoxide (CO), which is then dissolved in the oceans, distributed into the biosphere, and absorbed by plants via photosynthesis, which are subsequently consumed by living organisms. As long as a plant or animal is alive and in equilibrium with its environment, it exchanges carbon with it until the moment of its death, when the exchange ceases and the C-14 continues to decompose. A radiocarbon date can be determined from samples of organic remains using the radiocarbon found in the samples. The radioactive decay property of C-14 makes it less detectable the older the sample is, which serves as a marker for determining the age of the organic sample. In order to avoid incorrect results, however, other preparations, conversions, and considerations must be taken into account.

Shells & Carbonates, Groundwater, Bones & Teeth, Charcoals / Woods, Sediments, etc.

1. Sample preparation
2. Series of chemical reactions to convert all carbon atoms present into benzene
3. Addition of scintillator to benzene sample
4. Liquid scintillator spectrometer counts the number of decays occurring per minute
5. Computer analysis of data and date of sample determined

• C-14 Dating Device / Accelerator Mass Spectrometer
• Sample material