A bone containing 200 g carbon-14 has `beta`-decay rate of 375 decay/min. Calculate the time that has elapsed since the death of the living one. Given the rate of decay for the living organism is equal to 15 decay per min per gram of carbon and half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years.

Options

A. (a) 27190 years
B. (b) 1190 years
C. (c) 17190 years
D. (d) None of these

Answer

C

Explanation

`R_0=15xx200=3000` decay/min from 200g carbon.
Using `R=R_0(1/2)^n`
`:.` `375=3000(1/2)^n`
`:.` n=number of half-lives=3
`:.` t=5730xx3=17190y`