Question

The half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years. Dating organic material by looking for C-14 can't be accurately done after 50,000 years. Suppose a fossilized tree branch originally contained 4.30 grams of C-14. How much C-14 would be left after 50,000 years?

Answer 1

0.010g of C-14 would be later after 50,000 years

Step-by-step explanation:

The kinetics of radioactive decay follows the equation:

Ln (N / N₀) = -kt

Where N could be taken as mass after time t,

N₀ initial mass = 4.30g;

k is rate constant = ln 2 / t(1/2)

= ln 2 / 5730years = 1.2097x10⁻⁴ years ⁻¹

Replacing:

Ln (N / 4.30g) = -1.2097x10⁻⁴ years ⁻¹ * 50000 years

N / 4.30 = 2.36x10⁻³

N =

0.010g of C-14 would be later after 50,000 years