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An isotope like carbon-14 can be used to date dead organisms by counting the atoms with a machine.

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Ashlee Farrell

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2y ago

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What is the use of carbon 14?

Carbon-14 is used in radiocarbon dating to determine the age of organic materials up to around 50,000 years old. By measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in a sample, scientists can calculate how long ago the organism died, providing valuable information for archaeology, geology, and anthropology.


What is the role of decomposers in the carbon cycle?

recycle nutrients from dead organisms or their wastes


When decompose break down the carbon molecules in dead organisms?

carbon


Can carbon be found in dead organisms?

Yes


What is carbon 13?

Carbon-13 is a stable isotope of carbon, meaning it has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons compared to the more common isotope, carbon-12. It makes up about 1.1% of naturally occurring carbon and is often used in scientific research, such as in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to study the structure of molecules.


When decomposers break down the molecules in dead organisms?

carbon


How do dead organisms contribute to the carbon cycle?

Dead organisms release carbon into the atmosphere through decomposition, where bacteria and fungi break down organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide. This carbon can then be taken up by plants during photosynthesis, completing the carbon cycle.


When decomposers break down the carbon-containing molecules in dead organisms?

carbon dioxide is released


What is the role of the carbon cycle?

recycle nutrients from dead organisms or their wastes


Decomposers break down dead organisms and produce?

Decomposers break down dead organisms which produce carbon dioxide and nutrients. These nutrients are then used by other organisms such as plants.


The isotope often used to determine the age of once living things?

Carbon-14, a naturally occurring isotope of carbon in the atmosphere. After death, a living thing does not take in nutrients from the atmosphere and thus do not take in Carbon-14, thus the carbon-14 in their body start to diminish at a predictable rate. By measuring the amount of carbon-14 left in a dead matter, the time since death can be determined. Note that this method is only accurate up to 60,000 years old.


How does radioactive carbon dating help determine the age of fossils?

Living things take in carbon from food.