What is the pressure in a gas container that is connected to an open-end u-tube manometer if the pressure of the atmosphere is 742 torr and the level of mercury in the arm connected to the container is 8.60 cm higher than the level of mercury open to the atmosphere?
First, know that 8.60 cm = 86.0 mm, which is equivalent to an 86.0 torr pressure difference between the atmosphere and the container.
In this situation the pressure in the container is less than the atmosphere.
742 - 86 = 656 torr
Answer: 656 mmHg
Explanation:
Manometers are used to measure the pressure in a container by comparing it to normal atmospheric pressure.
First convert the atmospheric pressure to mmHg
1 torr = 1 mmHg
Therefore, the atmospheric pressure = 742 mmHg
Since the arm connected is higher than the level of the Mercury open to the atmosphere, then the gas pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure.
Hence,
Pgas = Patm - change in height
Pgas = 742 mmHg - 8.6 cmHg
Balance the unit: 10 mm = 1 cm
Then,
Pgas = 742 mmHg - 86 mmHg
Pgas = 656 mmHg
The gas pressure in the container is 656 mmHg.