In: Physics
Choose an isotope and describe its radioactive decay process and how it is used
Choose an isotope and describe its radioactive decay process and how it is used.
I choose Carbon-14 isotope
Radioactive decay process of Carbon-14 isotope:
C decays by a process called beta decay. During this process, an atom of 14C decays into an atom of 14N, during which one of the neutrons in the carbon atom becomes a proton. This increases the number of protons in the atom by one, creating a nitrogen atom rather than a carbon atom.
Application of Carbon -14 decay:
Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years and a decay rate of 14 disintegrations per minute (dpm) per gram of natural carbon.
For example, If an artifact or historical piece is found to have radioactivity of 4 dpm per gram of its present C, we can find the approximate age of the object using the below equation:
Thus, age of this historical artifact is 10356 years.
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