Assume that the rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to the amount of the substance present. The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for one-half of the substance to disintegrate. Carbon dating is often used to determine the age of a fossil. For example, a humanoid skull was found in a cave in South Africa along with the remains of a campfire. Archaeologists believe the age of the skull to be the same age as the campfire. It is determined that only 2% of the original amount of carbon-14 remains in the burnt wood of the campfire. Complete parts (a) through (e) below. (a) Estimate the age of the skull if the half-life of carbon-14 is about 5610 years. The skull is about years old. (Round to the nearest whole number as needed.)
Assume that the rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to the amount of the substance present. The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it takes for one-half of the substance to disintegrate. Carbon dating is often used to determine the age of a fossil. For example, a humanoid skull was found in a cave in South Africa along with the remains of a campfire. Archaeologists believe the age of the skull to be the same age as the campfire. It is determined that only 2% of the original amount of carbon-14 remains in the burnt wood of the campfire. Complete parts (a) through (e) below. (a) Estimate the age of the skull if the half-life of carbon-14 is about 5610 years. The skull is about years old. (Round to the nearest whole number as needed.)
Chapter19: The Nucleus: A Chemist's View
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3RQ
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Transcribed Image Text:Assume that the rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to the amount of the substance present. The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time it
takes for one-half of the substance to disintegrate. Carbon dating is often used to determine the age of a fossil. For example, a humanoid skull was found in a cave in
South Africa along with the remains of a campfire. Archaeologists believe the age of the skull to be the same age as the campfire. It is determined that only 2% of the
original amount of carbon-14 remains in the burnt wood of the campfire. Complete parts (a) through (e) below.
(a) Estimate the age of the skull if the half-life of carbon-14 is about 5610 years.
The skull is about years old.
In
(Round to the nearest whole number as needed.)
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