THE HALF-LIFE OF CARBON-14

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · Intern. J. Appl. Radiation and Isotopes

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-708X(61)90132-6· OSTI ID:4824035

Mann, W B; Marlow, W F; Hughes, E E

The half-life of C/sup 14/ was determined with an accuracy believed to be higher than that of previously reported values. Carbon dioxide was liberated by the action of perchloric acid on barium carbonate which contained C/sup 14/ in approximately 44% isotopic abundance. Samples of this C/sup 14/ dioxide were analyzed mass spectrometrically, and other portions were diluted quantitatively with inert carbon dioxide and counted in the NBS length-compensated internal gas counters. Technical difficulties encountered in this work, which are characteristic of this type of experiment, particularly problems of adsorption and the methods used to overcome them, are discussed in detail. On the basis of a thorough analysis of all results obtained, the half-life of C/sup 14/ is believed to be 5760 plus or minus 50 years, where the indicated uncertainty denotes an estimated over-all probable error of the result. (auth)

• Research Organization: National Bureau of Standards, Washington, D.C.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-032739
• OSTI ID: 4824035
• Journal Information: Intern. J. Appl. Radiation and Isotopes, Journal Name: Intern. J. Appl. Radiation and Isotopes Vol. Vol: 11
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ADSORPTION
BARIUM CARBONATES
BETA DECAY
CARBON 14
CARBON DIOXIDE
ERRORS
GASES
HALF-LIFE
MASS SPECTROMETERS
MEASURED VALUES
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PERCHLORIC ACID
PHYSICS
PROPORTIONAL COUNTERS
SOLUTIONS
STANDARDS