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Multiple Choice
Which of the following methods is commonly used to determine the age of a fossil in organic chemistry?
A
Mass spectrometry
B
Carbon-14 dating
C
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
D
Infrared spectroscopy
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the context: The problem is asking about methods used to determine the age of a fossil, which is a concept related to radiometric dating rather than typical organic chemistry techniques.
Identify the correct method: Carbon-14 dating is a radiometric dating method used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes.
Explain Carbon-14 dating: Carbon-14 is a radioactive isotope of carbon that decays over time. By measuring the remaining carbon-14 in a sample, scientists can estimate the time since the organism's death.
Differentiate from other methods: Mass spectrometry, NMR, and infrared spectroscopy are analytical techniques used to identify and characterize chemical compounds, not typically for dating fossils.
Conclude with relevance: Carbon-14 dating is specifically used for dating organic materials up to about 50,000 years old, making it suitable for determining the age of fossils.