Chemistry
Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781305957404
Author: Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Scientists can determine the age of ancient objects by the method of radiocarbon dating. The bombardment of the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays converts nitrogen to a radioactive isotope of carbon, 14C, with a half-life of about 5,730 years. Vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide through the atmosphere, and animal life assimilates 14C through food chains. When a plant or animal dies, it stops replacing its carbon, and the amount of 14C present begins to decrease through radioactive decay. Therefore, the level of radioactivity must also decay exponentially.
 
a) Dinosaur fossils are too old to be reliably dated using carbon-14. Suppose we had a 67 million year old dinosaur fossil. What percent of the living dinosaur's 14C would be remaining today? (Round your answer to five decimal places.)
 
b) Suppose the minimum detectable amount is 0.7%. What is the maximum age (in years) of a fossil that we could date using 14C? (Round your answer to the nearest year.)
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