Potassium-argon dating


[puh-tas-ee-uh m-ahr-gon] /pəˈtæs i əmˌɑr gɒn/

noun, Geology.
1.
a method for estimating the age of a mineral or rock, based on measurement of the rate of decay of radioactive potassium into argon.
noun
1.
a technique for determining the age of minerals based on the occurrence in natural potassium of a small fixed amount of radioisotope 40K that decays to the stable argon isotope 40Ar with a half-life of 1.28 × 109 years. Measurement of the ratio of these isotopes thus gives the age of the mineral Compare radiocarbon dating, rubidium-strontium dating
potassium-argon dating
A method of radiometric dating, involving analysis of the ratio of potassium 40 (a radioactive isotope of potassium) to argon (the product of radioactive decay of potassium 40) in a given sample.

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    noun, Chemistry, Pharmacology. 1. a white, crystalline, slightly alkaline, salty-tasting, water-soluble powder, KHCO 3 , produced by the passage of carbon dioxide through an aqueous potassium carbonate solution: used in cookery as a leavening agent and in medicine as an antacid. potassium bicarbonate n. A compound in the form of a white powder or colorless […]

  • Potassium-bichromate

    noun, Chemistry. 1. . noun, Chemistry. 1. an orange-red, crystalline, water-soluble, poisonous powder, K 2 Cr 2 O 7 , used chiefly in dyeing, photography, and as a laboratory reagent. noun 1. an orange-red crystalline soluble solid substance that is a good oxidizing agent and is used in making chrome pigments and as a bleaching […]

  • Potassium-binoxalate

    noun, Chemistry. 1. a white, crystalline, hygroscopic, poisonous solid, KHC 2 O 4 , that is usually hydrated: used chiefly for removing ink stains, cleaning metal and wood, and in photography.

  • Potassium-bisulfate

    noun, Chemistry. 1. a colorless, crystalline, water-soluble solid, KHSO 4 , used chiefly in the conversion of tartrates to bitartrates.

  • Potassium-bitartrate

    noun, Chemistry. 1. . noun 1. a white, crystalline, water-soluble powder, C 4 H 5 KO 6 , used chiefly as an ingredient in baking powders and in galvanic tinning of metals. Also called potassium bitartrate, potassium acid tartrate. Compare (def 3). noun 1. another name for potassium hydrogen tartrate, esp when used in baking […]


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