In: Chemistry
Explain why it is necessary to include the density of and the value of the acceleration due to gravity, g, in a precise definition of a millimeter of mercury (page 196).
A millimeter of mercury is 1/760 of an atmosphere of pressure at sea level. The density of mercury (13.5951 g/cm3) needs to be included in this definition and, because the density of mercury, like that of other liquids, varies somewhat with temperature, the pressure will vary if the density varies. The acceleration due to gravity (9.80665 m/s2) needs to be included because pressure is a force per unit area, not just a mass per unit area, and this force depends on the acceleration applied to the given mass, i.e., force = mass × acceleration.
Millimeter of mercury: 1/760 atm at sea level. Density and gravity affect pressure due to mass and force.