Anyone For Science? C/d 8/4/17

[straydog]

34 Kind of dating old organic remains (8)

The answer should be some kind of element starting with a letter between Copper and Gallium.

Any help appreciated

[Buenchico]

Carbon-14
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiocarbon_dating

[1ozzy]

Carbon 14

[straydog]

Yes Buenchico and 1ozzy that was my first thought but it's not in the sequence between Copper and Gallium as the element part of the quiz is in alphabetical order. Copper must be right as carbon is the answer 5 questions back and the intermediate ones all follow on to copper. The next one jumps to Gallium. I just cannot fathom this one out.

[kettledrum]

Fluorine absorption dating is a method used to determine the amount of time an object has been underground. Fluorine absorption dating can be carried out based on the fact that groundwater contains fluoride ions. Items such as bone that are in the soil will absorb fluoride from the groundwater over time.

[straydog]

I think you have it Kettledrum! Many thanks.

[Buenchico]

It looks like a setter's error to me. The only 6-letter elements in the right place alphabetically are curium and erbium
https://sciencenotes.org/list-of-chemical-elements-in-alphabetical-order/
Neither of those are used in dating organic material and, given that carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are the only three elements common to all organic matter, it's hard to see how anything other than carbon-14 could possibly be the answer here.

[Buenchico]

Aaagh! Why was I looking for a 6-letter answer???

I must be suffering from alcohol deprivation!

Sorry!!!

[straydog]

No worries Buenchico, I thought you'd realised with carbon-14. Nevermind. I'd spent hours and hours on this and didn't come up with fluorine even though there were only 4 possible elements! Thank you anyway

[Fibonacci]

Can't see this quiz listed in the monthly round-up
Could you post details of how to get a copy of the quiz either by post or email.
Thanks

[straydog]

Sorry Fibonacci I've only just seen your request. Here is the link to the details:
http://www.openarmsmalawi.org/anyone-for-science/
It's a very good quiz and a good cause as well.

[Mamyalynne]

I'll pop it in the monthly round up.

[straydog]

Good idea Mamyalynne thanks.

[Mamyalynne]

It will get more sold too, I've just printed it off.


Night x

[straydog]

Night and thanks again.