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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Zoloft on January 23, 2009, 06:28:18 AM

Title: Easy barometer question
Post by: Zoloft on January 23, 2009, 06:28:18 AM
So I'm given that the barometer reads 738.5 torr, and :delta: = 2.35 cm, SO, I know what an open-end barometer's pressure is Pgas = Patm - :delta: h when Pgas < Patm

What is the pressure in atms?

I do:

738.5 - 2.35 cm = 736.15 torrs x (1 atm /760 torr) which gives me .9686 atm

But the book says .9408 atm!

What am I doing (trivially) wrong?!
Title: Re: Easy barometer question
Post by: DrCMS on January 23, 2009, 08:56:44 AM
Not converting between cm and mm correctly. 
1torr = 1mmHg
1cm = 10mm

Now try again.