1.

(i) difficult to detect very small amounts of Ar-40 formed K-40 decayed / dating errors very large when so little decay has taken place / AW (1) do not allow answers that talk only in terms of not even finished one half life
1

(ii)

Ar (allow Ar ) (1) allow with correct mass / atomic numbers do not allow wrong symbol
1

2+

(iii)

peak / bar / line at (mass numbers) 36, 38 and 40 (1) mass numbers needed to score size / height of peak related to abundance (1)
2

(iv)

(energy lost as) electrons go from higher to lower levels (1) relationship of energy to frequency / wavelength (1) eg E = hf or in words gives a (specific) line(s) (1) mention of lines scores a mark energy gaps / levels different for different elements (1) QWC wavelength / frequency / frequencies must be spelled correctly con one mark if spelling incorrect
4

[8]

2.

(i)

any two from:

half life / decay constant has remained unchanged; no loss / gain of parent isotope / original radioisotope same age as rock; no loss / gain of daughter products/no daughter product at start; original rock contained the parent isotope but not the daughter isotope ..for this answer, allow one mark for idea of assuming no presence of daughter product from an alternative source allow no loss of gas do not allow half life/mass must be known
2

City and Islington college

(ii)

. . . . . i . o . . n . . i . s. . a . . t . i. o. . n . . . .a . .r . e. . a. . . . a . . c . .c . e. . l . e. . r. . a . . t . i . o. . n. . . .a . .r . e. . a. . . . . . . . . . . .

l i g h s a m p l e i n l e t h v a c u u m c h a m b e r e a v y

i o n

i o n

. . . . t . i. .m . . . e . . .m . . . e . . a . . s . u . . .r . e. . m . . . .e . n. . .t . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . i . o. . n. . . d. . .e . t. .e . .c . t. .o . .r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . one mark for each correct label; ionisation area (1); acceleration area (1); ion detector (1); time measurement (1); allow paraphrases/shortened phrase eg detector
4

[6]

3. (ii)

(i)

use small doses (1); therefore limited exposure (1)

2 2
[4]

10,000 to 500 = 5 half-lives (1); 5 8days = 40 days (1)

4. (ii)

(a) (i) Protons = 82(1); Neutrons = 124(1); 3 Electrons(allow ecf with protons) = 82(1) 234 and 4 top line (1); 90 and 2 bottom (1);
4

( 2 ) /He

(2+)

(1) No ecf. Not

2+

City and Islington college

(iii)

Time taken(qualified) to decay(1) but NOT half the time taken(CON) for amount/ count rate to drop by half (from starting point)/ half radioactivity decays/half the atoms decay/half radiation emitted/ half radioactive nuclei decay/half mass of original isotope (1) (AW)

(iv) (b)

/beta(1) correct symbol(with 0 and -1) OK but wrong way round CON

1 2

Gas escapes (1); less final lead isotope, decay has not been going on so long /U:Pb ratio greater/ (1)(Idea that loss of a daughter product seems to suggest radioactive decay has not been going on as long as it really has.)

[11]

City and Islington college