Radiometric Dating

Before you begin the investigation of radiometric dating, you must review the structure of atoms. Atoms are the most basic unit of a chemical element. They are composed of three sub-atomic particles known as protons, neutrons, and electrons. Atoms have two distinct regions, the nucleus and electron shells.

For this Warm-Up activity, use the Sketchpad web-based application from SKETCH.IO™ to create the atomic structure of either carbon. When you are creating your sketch, make sure to include the proper number of protons, neutrons, and electrons for each element.

Once you have created your image, check to see if your image is correct. Roll your cursor over the box in the image to the right to reveal the correct atomic structure of carbon. Carbon contains 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.