World of Chemistry
World of Chemistry
7th Edition
ISBN: 9780618562763
Author: Steven S. Zumdahl
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin College Div
Question
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Chapter 19, Problem 29A
Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The assumption made on carbon-14 in dating artifacts and the reason for the significance of the assumption has to be given.

Concept introduction: A process for dating ancient articles made from wood or cloth is called as radiocarbon dating (or) carbon-14 dating. Radiocarbon dating is based on C614 that decays by production of β- particle.

  C614e10+N714

When neutrons of high energy from space collide with nitrogen-14, carbon-14 is produced in the atmosphere.

  N714+n01C614+H11

The half-life of C614 is 5,730 years.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Answer to Problem 29A

The amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere is constant. The importance of the assumption is it tells about the balance between the amount produced and the amount it naturally decays.

Explanation of Solution

A process for dating ancient articles made from wood or cloth is called as radiocarbon dating (or) carbon-14 dating. The nuclide that is used in dating artifacts is carbon-14 (C612).

Radiocarbon dating is based on C614 that decays by production of β- particle.

  C614e10+N714

When neutrons of high energy from space collide with nitrogen-14, carbon-14 is produced in the atmosphere.

  N714+n01C614+H11

The half-life of C614 is 5,730 years.

Carbon-14 could be used to date wood and cloth artifacts because carbon-14 along with other isotopes of carbons reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.

The assumption on carbon-14 is that carbon-14 in the atmosphere has not changed over time; the biosphere has the equal overall concentration of radiocarbon as the atmosphere due to equilibrium.

The assumption on carbon-14 is important because there is balance between the amount produced and the amount that naturally decays.

Conclusion

The amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere is constant. The importance of the assumption is it tells about the balance between the amount produced and the amount it naturally decays.

Chapter 19 Solutions

World of Chemistry

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