While exploring a coal mine, scientists found plant fossils which had been preserved by an earthquake in the ceiling of the mine. Samples taken from one of the fossils had carbon-14 activities of 40.0 counts/min. A reference sample of the same size from a plant alive today has a carbon-14 activity of 160.0 counts/min. If carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years, what is the age of the plant fossil in years? age: years

Chemistry for Engineering Students
4th Edition
ISBN:9781337398909
Author:Lawrence S. Brown, Tom Holme
Publisher:Lawrence S. Brown, Tom Holme
Chapter14: Nuclear Chemistry
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 14.27PAE
icon
Related questions
Question
While exploring a coal mine, scientists found plant fossils which had been preserved by an earthquake in the ceiling of the
mine. Samples taken from one of the fossils had carbon-14 activities of 40.0 counts/min. A reference sample of the same size
from a plant alive today has a carbon-14 activity of 160.0 counts/min. If carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years, what is the
age of the plant fossil in years?
age:
years
Transcribed Image Text:While exploring a coal mine, scientists found plant fossils which had been preserved by an earthquake in the ceiling of the mine. Samples taken from one of the fossils had carbon-14 activities of 40.0 counts/min. A reference sample of the same size from a plant alive today has a carbon-14 activity of 160.0 counts/min. If carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years, what is the age of the plant fossil in years? age: years
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Dating Techniques
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, chemistry and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Recommended textbooks for you
Chemistry for Engineering Students
Chemistry for Engineering Students
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781337398909
Author:
Lawrence S. Brown, Tom Holme
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
General Chemistry - Standalone book (MindTap Cour…
General Chemistry - Standalone book (MindTap Cour…
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305580343
Author:
Steven D. Gammon, Ebbing, Darrell Ebbing, Steven D., Darrell; Gammon, Darrell Ebbing; Steven D. Gammon, Darrell D.; Gammon, Ebbing; Steven D. Gammon; Darrell
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry for Today: General, Organic, and Bioche…
Chemistry for Today: General, Organic, and Bioche…
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305960060
Author:
Spencer L. Seager, Michael R. Slabaugh, Maren S. Hansen
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Modern Chemistry
Principles of Modern Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305079113
Author:
David W. Oxtoby, H. Pat Gillis, Laurie J. Butler
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry: Principles and Practice
Chemistry: Principles and Practice
Chemistry
ISBN:
9780534420123
Author:
Daniel L. Reger, Scott R. Goode, David W. Ball, Edward Mercer
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781337399074
Author:
John C. Kotz, Paul M. Treichel, John Townsend, David Treichel
Publisher:
Cengage Learning