The archeologist collected a sample for testing and learned that the carbon-14 activity was found to be 10 counts per minute. A sample of new charcoal of similar size showed a carbon-14 activity of 640 counts per minute. How many carbon-14 half-lives have occurred? Estimate the age of the charcoal. (The half-life of 14C is 5,730 years.)
The archeologist collected a sample for testing and learned that the carbon-14 activity was found to be 10 counts per minute. A sample of new charcoal of similar size showed a carbon-14 activity of 640 counts per minute. How many carbon-14 half-lives have occurred? Estimate the age of the charcoal. (The half-life of 14C is 5,730 years.)
Chemistry: The Molecular Science
5th Edition
ISBN:9781285199047
Author:John W. Moore, Conrad L. Stanitski
Publisher:John W. Moore, Conrad L. Stanitski
Chapter18: Nuclear Chemistry
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 96QRT
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An archeologist was investigating a dig site and found charcoal in a pre-historic fire pit. Charcoal consists mostly of the element carbon. There are three naturally occurring isotopes of carbon: 12C, 13C, and 14C. Carbon-14 is radioactive and can be used to date the charcoal. The archeologist collected a sample for testing and learned that the carbon-14 activity was found to be 10 counts per minute. A sample of new charcoal of similar size showed a carbon-14 activity of 640 counts per minute.
How many carbon-14 half-lives have occurred?
Estimate the age of the charcoal. (The half-life of 14C is 5,730 years.)
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