Chapter 18, Problem 37E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: Rate of decay of carbon $14$ and its half life is given. The counts per minute per gram of carbon measured from a $15000$ year old sample are to be determined. Effectiveness of radiocarbon dating for a small sample of $\text{10mg}$ or less is to be justified.

Concept introduction: Radiocarbon dating is based on the radioactivity of the nuclide ${}_6^{14}\text{C}$ which decays by beta particle production.

A living plant consumes carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis process and incorporates the carbon including ${}_6^{14}\text{C}$ into its molecule.

To determine: The counts per minute per gram of carbon measured from a $15000$ year old sample.