Chapter 20, Problem 56E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The age of the meteor is to be determined.

Concept Introduction:

The rate constant (k) of the reaction is determined by:

$t_{1/2}=\frac{\text{0}\text{.693}}{k}$

The integrated rate law is as follows:

$\begin{array}{l}\text{ln}\frac{N_t}{N_{\text{0}}}=-kt\\ \frac{N_t}{N_{\text{0}}}=N_{\text{0}}{\text{e}}^{-kt}\end{array}$

Here, N is the amount of sample left after time T and $N_0$ is the initial amount of the sample.