6
QuizMultiple Choice

Absolute Dating

Question 6 • 26/27 EARTH & SPACE SCIENCE A

Which property of argon makes it useful for potassium-argon dating?

Answer
A
It decays into potassium.
B
It is an unstable element.
C
It remains trapped in rock.
D
It is useful only for dating newer rock.

Explanation

Potassium-40 decays into argon-40. When rock forms, argon gas can escape, but once the rock solidifies, newly produced argon remains trapped inside. Measuring that trapped argon helps determine how long it has been since the rock formed, so the correct choice is “It remains trapped in rock.”

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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