The radioactive potassium-40 isotope decays to argon-40 with a half-life of 1.2 × 10° years. (a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction. (b) A sample of moon rock is found to contain 21 percent potassium-40 and 79 percent argon by mass. Calculate the age of rock in years. (Assume that all the argon in the sample is the result of potassium decay.) x 10 years Enter your answer in scientific notation.

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Chapter20: Nuclear Chemistry
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Problem 20.100QP
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The radioactive potassium-40 isotope decays to argon-40 with a half-life of 1.2 × 10⁹ years.
(a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction.
(b) A sample of moon rock is found to contain 21 percent potassium-40 and 79 percent argon by
mass. Calculate the age of rock in years. (Assume that all the argon in the sample is the result of
potassium decay.)
x 10
years Enter your answer in scientific notation.
Transcribed Image Text:The radioactive potassium-40 isotope decays to argon-40 with a half-life of 1.2 × 10⁹ years. (a) Write a balanced equation for the reaction. (b) A sample of moon rock is found to contain 21 percent potassium-40 and 79 percent argon by mass. Calculate the age of rock in years. (Assume that all the argon in the sample is the result of potassium decay.) x 10 years Enter your answer in scientific notation.
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