During a laboratory test

CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · US High School · Chemistry · Atomic Structure & Nuclear · Atomic Structure & Nuclear

Problem

During a laboratory test, a wooden artifact shows a count rate of

5.0\,\text{dpm}\,\text{g}^{-1}

. The background count of the apparatus is

0.5\,\text{dpm}\,\text{g}^{-1}

. For living wood the activity is

15.6\,\text{dpm}\,\text{g}^{-1}

. The half-life of

^{14}\text{C}

5730\,\text{yr}

. (i) Find the true activity of the artifact after correcting for background. (ii) Estimate the age of the artifact.