If the atmospheric pressure is 0.995 atm, what is the pressure of the enclosed gas in each of the three cases depicted in the drawing? Assume that the gray liquid is mercury. (ii)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the type of manometer used in the drawing. It could be an open-end or closed-end manometer.
2. For an open-end manometer, determine whether the mercury level is higher in the arm connected to the gas or the arm open to the atmosphere.
3. If the mercury level is higher in the arm connected to the gas, subtract the height difference (in mm Hg) from the atmospheric pressure to find the gas pressure.
4. If the mercury level is higher in the arm open to the atmosphere, add the height difference (in mm Hg) to the atmospheric pressure to find the gas pressure.
5. Convert the pressure from mm Hg to atm if necessary, using the conversion factor: 1 atm = 760 mm Hg.

Key Concepts

Atmospheric Pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force exerted by the weight of air above a given point, typically measured in atmospheres (atm) or pascals (Pa). At sea level, standard atmospheric pressure is defined as 1 atm, which is equivalent to 101.3 kPa. Understanding atmospheric pressure is crucial for analyzing gas behavior in various conditions, as it influences the pressure exerted by gases in enclosed systems.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure refers to the pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium due to the force of gravity. It is calculated using the formula P = ρgh, where P is the pressure, ρ is the fluid density, g is the acceleration due to gravity, and h is the height of the fluid column. In the context of the question, the height of the mercury column will determine the pressure exerted by the gas in the enclosure.

Manometer

A manometer is a device used to measure the pressure of a gas by comparing it to atmospheric pressure. It typically consists of a U-shaped tube filled with a liquid, such as mercury, where the difference in liquid height between the two arms indicates the pressure difference. In this scenario, the manometer's readings will help determine the pressure of the enclosed gas relative to the atmospheric pressure of 0.995 atm.