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Ch.5 - Gases
Chapter 5, Problem 28b

The world record for lowest pressure (at sea level) was 652.5 mmHg recorded inside Typhoon Tip on October 12, 1979, in the western Pacific Ocean. Convert this pressure to each indicated unit. b. atm

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Identify the conversion factor between mmHg and atm. The standard conversion is 1 atm = 760 mmHg.
Set up the conversion equation using the given pressure in mmHg. You will use the conversion factor to convert mmHg to atm.
Write the equation: \( \text{Pressure in atm} = \frac{\text{Pressure in mmHg}}{760} \).
Substitute the given pressure value into the equation: \( \text{Pressure in atm} = \frac{652.5}{760} \).
Simplify the expression to find the pressure in atm.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Pressure Units

Pressure is a measure of force applied per unit area and can be expressed in various units, including millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and atmospheres (atm). Understanding these units is crucial for converting between them, as they represent the same physical quantity but are scaled differently.
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Conversion Factors

To convert pressure from one unit to another, specific conversion factors are used. For example, 1 atm is defined as 760 mmHg. Knowing these conversion factors allows for accurate calculations when changing pressure units, which is essential in scientific contexts.
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Ideal Gas Law

The Ideal Gas Law (PV=nRT) relates pressure (P), volume (V), temperature (T), and the number of moles (n) of a gas. While not directly required for the conversion, understanding this law provides context for why pressure measurements are important in chemistry, particularly in gas behavior under different conditions.
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