The correct answer is: a) Estimate the age of prehistoric artifacts.
Carbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioactive decay of carbon-14 (14C) to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years old. Carbon dating is considered to be one of the most accurate dating methods available, and it is widely used in archaeology, geology, and other fields.
The principle behind carbon dating is that the amount of 14C in the atmosphere has remained relatively constant over time. When an organism dies, it stops exchanging carbon with the atmosphere, and the amount of 14C in its remains begins to decay. The rate of decay is known, so by measuring the amount of 14C in a sample, it is possible to calculate its age.
Carbon dating is not without its limitations. One limitation is that it can only be used to date materials that contain carbon. Another limitation is that the accuracy of carbon dating decreases with the age of the sample. This is because the amount of 14C in the atmosphere has decreased over time, so older samples contain less 14C and are therefore more difficult to date accurately.
Despite its limitations, carbon dating is a valuable tool for archaeologists and geologists. It has been used to date a wide range of artifacts and materials, including bones, wood, and charcoal. Carbon dating has also been used to date geological events, such as volcanic eruptions.
The other options are incorrect because they are not the primary purpose of carbon dating. Option b) is incorrect because carbon dating is not used to analyze the chemical composition of pottery. Option c) is incorrect because carbon dating is not used to study rock formations. Option d) is incorrect because carbon dating is not used to map ancient trade routes.