253 mmhg (torr)
The atmospheric pressure at sea level is typically around 760 mmHg. As you increase in altitude above sea level, the atmospheric pressure decreases. For example, at 5,000 feet above sea level, the atmospheric pressure may be around 625 mmHg.
Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet (4,421 meters), experiences significantly lower atmospheric pressure compared to sea level. At its summit, the atmospheric pressure is approximately 60% of that at sea level, translating to around 8.5 psi (pounds per square inch) or roughly 500 mmHg. This reduced pressure can affect climbers, leading to altitude sickness and requiring acclimatization.
The two ways to express the atmospheric pressure at sea level are in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) or in hectopascals (hPa).
mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury and is a unit of pressure commonly used in barometers to measure atmospheric pressure. It represents the height of a column of mercury that the atmospheric pressure can support.
To calculate the partial pressures of oxygen (O₂) and nitrogen (N₂) in the atmosphere, you can use Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures. The total pressure is 760 mmHg. The partial pressure of O₂ is 20% of 760 mmHg, which is 152 mmHg, and the partial pressure of N₂ is 80% of 760 mmHg, which is 608 mmHg. Therefore, the partial pressures are 152 mmHg for O₂ and 608 mmHg for N₂.
To find the pressure of the gas in the mercury manometer, you can use the formula: ( P_{\text{gas}} = P_{\text{atm}} + h ). In this case, ( P_{\text{atm}} ) is 769 mmHg and ( h ) is 71 mm. Thus, ( P_{\text{gas}} = 769 , \text{mmHg} + 71 , \text{mmHg} = 840 , \text{mmHg} ). Therefore, the pressure of the gas is 840 mmHg.
A not-commonly-used measurement is 'atmosphere'. One atmosphere is the average pressure at sea-level: 101.325 kPa, 1013.25 mbar, 29.921 inches of mercury (inHg) or 760 millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
The pressure of the gas is equal to the atmospheric pressure plus the difference in the heights of the mercury levels. To convert 736 mmHg to cm, divide by 1.333. Then calculate the difference in heights: 9.2 cm. Add the two values together to find the pressure of the gas.
The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which its vapor pressure equals the external pressure. At standard atmospheric pressure (760 mmHg), water boils at 100°C. However, if the external pressure is lower than 760 mmHg, the vapor pressure of the liquid can reach the external pressure at a lower temperature, resulting in a boiling point that is less than 100°C. This phenomenon is commonly observed at high altitudes where atmospheric pressure is reduced.
These three components are the three largest components of air. The total pressure of a gas mixture is just the sum of the partial pressures of each component. Air is a mixture and nitrogen, oxygen, and argon are the three biggest components. So, the atmospheric pressure (or air pressure) would be the sum of the partial pressure of each component of the air: Ptot=PPnitrogen + PPoxygen+ PPargon = 442 mmHg + 118.34 mmHg + 5.66 mmHg = 566 mmHg
mmHg, or millimeters of mercury, is used as a unit of measurement for pressure because it is a convenient and widely accepted unit in the field of medicine and science. It is commonly used to measure blood pressure and atmospheric pressure due to its historical significance and practicality in these applications.
1 atmosphere (1 atm) is equivalent to 760 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). This conversion is based on the standard atmospheric pressure defined at sea level. Therefore, when you convert 1 atm to mmHg, the result is 760 mmHg.