| MadSci Network: Chemistry |
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There is no way of dating any particular atom. We can date a good-sized sample
of
radioactive atoms because of their decay properties, but a single radioactive
atom will decay at a random time.
The best we can do is to say that our atoms (the non-radioactive ones) are at least as old as the solar system, about 4.5 x 109 years. Atoms of hydrogen (and at least 75% of the helium atoms) are going to be the same age as the universe; other atoms are put together in stars from hydrogen and helium building blocks.
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Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.