You find a rock that contains equal amounts of potassium-40 and argon-40. how old is it?

Question

Hope Dixon

Chemistry

12 May, 23:44

You find a rock that contains equal amounts of potassium-40 and argon-40. how old is it?

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Darren · Answer 1

The half-life of potassium-40 is about 1.25x10^9, or 1.25 billion, years. it undergoes beta decay and becomes argon-40. Equal amounts would be one half-life, so the sample is also 1.25x10^9 years old.