Problem The charred bones of a sloth in a cave in Chile represent the earliest evidence of human presence at the southern tip of South America. A sample of the bone has a specific activity of 5.22 disintegrations per minute per gram of carbon (d/min•g). If the 12C/14C ratio for living organisms results in a specific activity of 15.3 d/min•g, how old are the bones (t1/2 of 14C = 5730 yr)?Plan We calculate k from the given t1/2 (5730 yr). Then we apply as shown to find the age (t) of the bones, using the given activities of the bones (At = 5.22 d/min•g) and of a living organism (A0 = 15.3 d/min•g).

Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
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Problem The charred bones of a sloth in a cave in Chile represent the earliest evidence of human presence at the southern tip of South America. A sample of the bone has a specific activity of 5.22 disintegrations per minute per gram of carbon (d/min•g). If the 12C/14C ratio for living organisms results in a specific activity of 15.3 d/min•g, how old are the bones (t1/2 of 14C = 5730 yr)?
Plan We calculate k from the given t1/2 (5730 yr). Then we apply as shown to find the age (t) of the bones, using the given activities of the bones (At = 5.22 d/min•g) and of a living organism (A0 = 15.3 d/min•g).

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