Question:medium

Which one of the following is the CORRECT pair of radioactive parent isotope and the corresponding radiogenic daughter isotope?

Show Hint

Recall the standard parent-daughter isotope pairs used in radiometric dating: Rb-87 to Sr-87, Sm-147 to Nd-143, U-238 to Pb-206, U-235 to Pb-207.
Updated On: Jul 20, 2026
  • \(^{87}\text{Rb} \rightarrow {}^{86}\text{Sr}\)
  • \(^{147}\text{Sm} \rightarrow {}^{143}\text{Nd}\)
  • \(^{235}\text{U} \rightarrow {}^{206}\text{Pb}\)
  • \(^{238}\text{U} \rightarrow {}^{207}\text{Pb}\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Write down the standard decay pairs from memory.
The common radiometric clocks used in geology run as follows: $^{238}\text{U} \to {}^{206}\text{Pb}$, $^{235}\text{U} \to {}^{207}\text{Pb}$, $^{232}\text{Th} \to {}^{208}\text{Pb}$, $^{87}\text{Rb} \to {}^{87}\text{Sr}$, $^{147}\text{Sm} \to {}^{143}\text{Nd}$ and $^{40}\text{K} \to {}^{40}\text{Ar}$.

Step 2: Compare each option against this list.
Option (A) says $^{87}\text{Rb} \to {}^{86}\text{Sr}$, but the real daughter of rubidium-87 is strontium-87, not 86. This does not match.
Option (C) says $^{235}\text{U} \to {}^{206}\text{Pb}$, but uranium-235 actually ends at lead-207. This does not match either.
Option (D) says $^{238}\text{U} \to {}^{207}\text{Pb}$, but uranium-238 actually ends at lead-206. The isotopes have been swapped, so this is wrong too.

Step 3: Find the one that matches.
Option (B), $^{147}\text{Sm} \to {}^{143}\text{Nd}$, matches the standard samarium-neodymium pair exactly.

Step 4: Conclude.
\[ \boxed{^{147}Sm \rightarrow\ ^{143}Nd} \]
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