Question 8 Why is the carbon-12: carbon-14 ratio stable in living organisms? Sel

Question

Question 8 Why is the carbon-12: carbon-14 ratio stable in living organisms? Selected Answer b. Animals and other organisms continuously breathe in atmospheric carbon dioxide containing carbon-14 Answers a Animals and other organisms acquire it from photosynthetic organisms that produce it during photosynthesis b. Animals and other organisms continuously breathe in atmospheric carbon dioxide containing carbon-14 c. Plants continuously acquire C-14 from atmospheric carbon dioxide and other organisms get it from eating those plants d. Both carbon-12 and carbon-14 are equally stable in living things, thus the ratio remains stable

Explanation / Answer

Carbon 14 is radioactive isotopr of carbon. The radioactive carbon reaches atmosphere by production of neutrons by cosmic rays and other ionizing radiation. Such carbon 14 is taken up by plants and enter into animals consuming su ch plants. In animals, the carbon 14 is converted to nitrogen 14 and therefore, the uptake of carbon 14 and conversion into nitrogen 14 is same and thus, carbon 14 levels are maintained stable in animals. option c is correct.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse Q
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.