Exercise

Assume there are 500 atoms of ¹⁴C with a ½ life of 5730 years. The daughter product of ¹⁴C is ¹⁴N. ¹⁴C has an atomic number of 6 and a mass of 14 amu.¹⁴N has an atomic number of 7 and a mass of 14 amu.

Based on the above:

How many parents and daughters are present after

1 half life? 2 half lives? 3 half lives? 4 half lives?

What is the parent daughter ratio for each half life above?

What decay process has occurred and how do you know?

If the ratio of parent to daughter is 1:7 what is the age of the object you are dating?

If the ratio of parent to daughter is 3:1 (3 parents for every daughter) what is the age of the object you are dating?