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Multiple Choice
Which two methods are commonly used for determining the age of rocks and fossils in organic chemistry?
A
Mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy
B
X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance
C
Radiocarbon dating and potassium-argon dating
D
Thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that the problem is asking about methods used for dating rocks and fossils, which is related to geochemistry rather than organic chemistry.
Recognize that radiocarbon dating is a method used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes. This is particularly useful for dating materials up to about 50,000 years old.
Learn that potassium-argon dating is used to date rocks and minerals based on the radioactive decay of potassium-40 to argon-40. This method is useful for dating geological samples that are millions of years old.
Differentiate these methods from techniques like mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, thin-layer chromatography, and gas chromatography, which are used for analyzing chemical structures and compositions rather than dating.
Conclude that radiocarbon dating and potassium-argon dating are the correct methods for determining the age of rocks and fossils, as they are specifically designed for age determination based on radioactive decay.