Chapter 10.3, Problem 10.14P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The age of an aircraft should be estimated which has 1/8 of the quantity of C-14 (relative to C-12) compared to living organisms.

Concept Introduction:

The time which is required for a quantity to reduce to half of its initial value is known as half -life.

Or,

The time at which the reactant concentration is reduced to half of its initial concentration is known as half-life.

The expression for calculating amount left after decay of radioactive atom is shown as:

  $A=A_{orig}{\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)}^t$

Where, t = number of half-lives that passed.