Carbon-14 dating is a first order process used to determine the age of artifacts that were made from organic (carbon-containing) materials. Given a rate constant of 1.21 x 10-4 years-1, what is the half life of carbon-14 (i.e., how many years will it take for the initial concentration of carbon-14 in a sample to be reduced to one-half the initial amount)? (answer in 4 significant figures)

Chemistry: The Molecular Science
5th Edition
ISBN:9781285199047
Author:John W. Moore, Conrad L. Stanitski
Publisher:John W. Moore, Conrad L. Stanitski
Chapter11: Chemical Kinetics: Rates Of Reactions
Section11.3: Rate Law And Order Of Reactions
Problem 11.7PSP
icon
Related questions
Question

Carbon-14 dating is a first order process used to determine the age of artifacts that were made from organic (carbon-containing) materials.  Given a rate constant of 1.21 x 10-4 years-1, what is the half life of carbon-14 (i.e., how many years will it take for the initial concentration of carbon-14 in a sample to be reduced to one-half the initial amount)?  

(answer in 4 significant figures) 

Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Theories of Reaction Rates
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.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Chemistry: The Molecular Science
Chemistry: The Molecular Science
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781285199047
Author:
John W. Moore, Conrad L. Stanitski
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 for Engineering Students
Chemistry for Engineering Students
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781337398909
Author:
Lawrence S. Brown, Tom Holme
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305079373
Author:
William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry by OpenStax (2015-05-04)
Chemistry by OpenStax (2015-05-04)
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781938168390
Author:
Klaus Theopold, Richard H Langley, Paul Flowers, William R. Robinson, Mark Blaser
Publisher:
OpenStax
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781337399074
Author:
John C. Kotz, Paul M. Treichel, John Townsend, David Treichel
Publisher:
Cengage Learning