Carbon 14 which is present in all living tissue, radioactively decays via a first order process. A one gram sample of wood taken from a living tree gives a rate of carbon-14 decay of 13.6 counts per minute. If the half life for carbon 14 is 5720 years, how old is a wood sample that gives a rate for carbon 14 decay for 11.9 counts per minute. (counts per min. is equal to a concentration like molarity).  a) 7200 years b) 380 years c) 550 years d)1.6 x 10^5 years e)1100 years

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Carbon 14 which is present in all living tissue, radioactively decays via a first order process. A one gram sample of wood taken from a living tree gives a rate of carbon-14 decay of 13.6 counts per minute. If the half life for carbon 14 is 5720 years, how old is a wood sample that gives a rate for carbon 14 decay for 11.9 counts per minute. (counts per min. is equal to a concentration like molarity). 

a) 7200 years b) 380 years c) 550 years d)1.6 x 10^5 years e)1100 years

Expert Solution
Step 1

Given: Activity of fresh wood sample = 13.6 counts per min.

Half-life of C-14 = 5720 years.

And the activity of wood sample taken = 11.9 counts per min.

 

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