An archeological artifact has a carbon-14 decay rate of 2.75 dis/min·gC. If the rate of decay of a living organism is 15.3 dis/min·gC, how old is this artifact? Assume that t1/2 for carbon-14 is 5730 yr. 1.42 * 104 yr1.209 * 10-4 yr6.16 * 103 yr1.03 * 103 yr

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Chemistry

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17 February, 14:36

An archeological artifact has a carbon-14 decay rate of 2.75 dis/min·gC. If the rate of decay of a living organism is 15.3 dis/min·gC, how old is this artifact? Assume that t1/2 for carbon-14 is 5730 yr. 1.42 * 104 yr1.209 * 10-4 yr6.16 * 103 yr1.03 * 103 yr

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Kirsten Kent · Answer 1

2.09 x 10⁻⁴ yr

Explanation:

Use th formula:

ln (Nt/No) = - kt where k = 0.693 / t1/2

then

ln (2.75/15.3) = - (0.693 / 5730/yr) x t

-1.716 = 1.2 x 10⁻⁴ yr x t ⇒ t = 2.09 x 10⁻⁴ yr

N. B : There is a missing decimal in the answer.