Question

Carbon dating is performed on dead tissues because the ratio of $C^{14}/C^{12}$ in dead tissue:

• A. keeps lessening unlike in fresh tissue
  
• B. keeps increasing unlike in fresh tissue
• C. is same as that of fresh tissue
• D. carbon dating is not performed on dead tissues

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

keeps lessening unlike in fresh tissue

The ratio of $C^{14}/C^{12}$ in dead tissue keeps lessening unlike in fresh tissue. In the fresh tissue, whatever quantity of $C^{14}$ is lost is replaced by absorbing fresh amount from the air. This does do not happen in case of dead tissue.