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What is the difference between the parent isotope and the daughter isotope?

The parent isotope is the original radioactive isotope that undergoes decay to form the daughter isotope. The daughter isotope is the stable isotope that is formed as a result of the radioactive decay of the parent isotope.


. Describe in a few sentences how scientists use radioactivity to determine the age of a rock.?

Scientists use radioactivity to determine the age of a rock through a process called radiometric dating. They measure the amount of radioactive isotopes present in the rock and the rate at which they decay into stable isotopes. By comparing the ratio of parent isotope to daughter isotope, scientists can calculate the age of the rock based on the known half-life of the radioactive isotope.


The expression used to determine the correct age of the lava flow is the product of?

The expression used to determine the correct age of the lava flow is the product of the parent isotope's half-life and the ratio of parent isotope to daughter isotope in the sample. This is based on the principles of radiometric dating, where the decay of radioactive isotopes can be used to estimate the age of a rock or mineral.


How do scientist find the absolute age of a rock?

Radioisotopes are used by scientists to date rocks in a method called radiometric dating. The isotopes of an element are the atoms that have the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons. When atoms of a radioactive isotope are included in the formation of a crystal, that crystal becomes the parent isotope. As the isotopes begin to decay, they become a daughter isotope. The convenient property of this phenomenon is that a certain parent isotope will ALWAYS decay to a certain daughter isotope. The rate of decay from parent to daughter isotope is called the half-life (time for half of the parent to become the daughter). Being familiar with and using isotopes such as Uranium-238, Uranium-235, and Carbon-14, scientists are able to calculate the age of a rock, fossil, etc. using the known half-life for each parent isotope.


What is one radioactive isotope the geologist can use to learn exact age of the rock?

Absolute dating is a radioactive isotope the geologist can use to learn the exact age of the rock.

Related Questions

What is the difference between the parent isotope and the daughter isotope?

The parent isotope is the original radioactive isotope that undergoes decay to form the daughter isotope. The daughter isotope is the stable isotope that is formed as a result of the radioactive decay of the parent isotope.


. Describe in a few sentences how scientists use radioactivity to determine the age of a rock.?

Scientists use radioactivity to determine the age of a rock through a process called radiometric dating. They measure the amount of radioactive isotopes present in the rock and the rate at which they decay into stable isotopes. By comparing the ratio of parent isotope to daughter isotope, scientists can calculate the age of the rock based on the known half-life of the radioactive isotope.


Why are igneous rocks the best type of rock sample for radiomertic dating?

Because when they form, minerals in igneous rocks often contain only a parent isotope and none of the daughter isotope. This makes the isotope percentage more accurate and easier to interpret.


How do scientist use Radioactive Isotopes to find the absolute age of a rock?

Scientists use radioactive isotopes in rocks to calculate their absolute age through a process called radiometric dating. By measuring the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes in a rock sample, scientists can determine how much time has passed since the rock formed. The rate of decay of the parent isotope into the daughter isotope provides a clock that allows scientists to calculate the rock's age.


The expression used to determine the correct age of the lava flow is the product of?

The expression used to determine the correct age of the lava flow is the product of the parent isotope's half-life and the ratio of parent isotope to daughter isotope in the sample. This is based on the principles of radiometric dating, where the decay of radioactive isotopes can be used to estimate the age of a rock or mineral.


How do scientist find the absolute age of a rock?

Radioisotopes are used by scientists to date rocks in a method called radiometric dating. The isotopes of an element are the atoms that have the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons. When atoms of a radioactive isotope are included in the formation of a crystal, that crystal becomes the parent isotope. As the isotopes begin to decay, they become a daughter isotope. The convenient property of this phenomenon is that a certain parent isotope will ALWAYS decay to a certain daughter isotope. The rate of decay from parent to daughter isotope is called the half-life (time for half of the parent to become the daughter). Being familiar with and using isotopes such as Uranium-238, Uranium-235, and Carbon-14, scientists are able to calculate the age of a rock, fossil, etc. using the known half-life for each parent isotope.


What does a scientist need to know to figure out the absolute age of rock?

They need to determine the amount of radioactive decay of a specific isotope in the rock since its formation.


Method of dating rock when the amount of parent and daughter materials are measured?

radiometric


What is the true age of a rock or fossil?

The method used will be determined by the rock type, but the age of a rock will be determined by a determination of the amount of decay of a radioactive isotope, either contained in the rock, or in a geologic layer of rock coinciding with a fossil.


Explain how radiometric dating is used to estimate absolute age?

Radiometric dating is based on the principle that certain isotopes decay at a constant rate over time. By measuring the ratio of parent isotopes to daughter isotopes in a rock sample, scientists can calculate how much time has passed since the rock formed. This method provides an accurate estimate of the absolute age of the rock or fossil.


What is limestones parent rock?

Limestone does not have a parent rock.


If a radioactive isotope in a rock has a half-life of 10000 years and the ratio of radioactive parent to stable daughter is 1 to 3 how old is the rock?

At the time the rock is created, the radioactive isotope is present in that rock in a ratio of 1 to zero with regard to the stable daughter. After one half-life, which is 10,000 years, the isotope to daughter ratio is 1 to 1. After another half-life, which is another 10,000 years, the ratio is 1 to 3. The rock is 20,000 years old.To see it another way, after the first half-life is complete, half the material is the original isotope, and half is the daughter. That's a 1 to 1 ratio. After another half-life (another 10,000 years) has passed, half the original isotope that was left has become the daughter. That's one quarter more of the daughter that will be added to the quantity of the daughter existing after the first half-life. That means that one quarter of the original isotope will be left after 2 half-lives, and the rest (the other 3/4ths of the material) will be the daughter. The ratio of the original isotope to the daughter after 2 half-lives (20,000 years) is 1 to 3.