Radiocarbon dating relies on the decay of carbon-14 ( )
CHEMISTRY · Multi-part · US High School · Chemistry · Atomic Structure & Nuclear · Atomic Structure & Nuclear
Problem
Radiocarbon dating relies on the decay of carbon-14 (14C), whose half-life is 5730 years. Modern atmospheric carbon contains an activity of 13.56 decays s−1 per gram of carbon. A 2.000 g sample of carbon extracted from an archaeological wood fragment exhibits an activity of 0.640 decays s−1.
(a) Determine the decay constant k (in yr−1) for 14C. Show your work and include proper units.
(b) Calculate the age of the wood fragment. Report your answer to an appropriate number of significant figures and include units.
(c) Identify one assumption inherent in this dating method and discuss how violation of this assumption could affect the calculated age.