The Radioactive Nuclide ¹⁴C Decays with a T_1/2 of 5730

question 1

Multiple Choice

The radioactive nuclide ¹⁴C decays with a t_1/2 of 5730 yrs. An archaeologist is studying a woven mat using radiocarbon dating. If calculations related to the mat's original ¹⁴C content reveal that there was 5.83 × 10²² atoms of ¹⁴C present in the plant used to weave the mat, how long ago was the mat woven if modern spectroscopy was used to determine that 7.11 × 10²⁰ atoms of ¹⁴C now exist in the sample?

• A) 8.3 × 10⁴ yrs
• B) 4.1 × 10² yrs
• C) 3.6 × 10⁴ yrs
• D) 5.0 × 10⁶ yrs

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Definitions:

Structure

The organization and connections between different parts or elements within a complex structure.

Hydrogen Bonding

A weak type of chemical bond that is common in water and organic compounds, arising from the attractive force between a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to a very electronegative atom (such as oxygen or nitrogen) and another electronegative atom.

Dimethyl Ether

Dimethyl ether is a colorless gas used as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant, with the chemical formula CH3OCH3.

H-F

Hydrogen fluoride, a chemical compound consisting of hydrogen and fluorine, known for its use in industrial processes and its high toxicity.