10 Facts about Carbon Dating

Friday, October 16th 2015. | Science

If you want to know the technique or method employed to find out the age of an object, you have to check Facts about Carbon Dating. You have to make sure that the object has the radiocarbon properties or 14 C to find out the age of the object. Here are some interesting facts about carbon dating to note.

Facts about Carbon Dating 1: who developed carbon dating?

In the end of 1940s, Willard Libby developed the method of carbon dating. Then the archeologists employed carbon dating as their standard to decide the age of the objects.

Facts about Carbon Dating 2: Nobel Prize

In 1960, Willard Libby was awarded with a Nobel Prize due to his invention.

Carbon Dating C14

Facts about Carbon Dating 3: the foundation of carbon dating

The method of carbon dating was based on the true fact that the atmosphere formed radiocarbon from the interaction of atmospheric nitrogen and cosmic rays.

Facts about Carbon Dating 4: the contamination

The contamination of the object with the modern carbon can make the object looks younger. The result will be inaccurate.

Facts about Carbon Dating

Facts about Carbon Dating 5: the sample and contamination

If the sample which has the age of 17,000 years is contaminated by only 1 percent of modern carbon, it can cause the sample to date 600 years younger than its actual look.

Facts about Carbon Dating 6: the samples

It is not easy to find out the date of the object using the carbon dating. It requires precision and details. The samples that the people collect should be converted into a sample which can be measured in 14 C content.

Carbon Dating

Facts about Carbon Dating 7: the type of conversion

The type of conversion that the people should employ depends on the technique applies. The sample may be converted into liquid, gas or solid form.

Facts about Carbon Dating 8: Alkali and acid washes

The visible contaminants should be eliminated to make sure that the result is accurate. To remove the carbonate and humic acid contamination, the people can use the alkali and acid washes. Get facts about alkalis here.