What are some common mistakes students make with atmospheric pressure?

1 Answer
Aug 23, 2016

The units of pressure are the most obvious pratfall.

Explanation:

#"Atmospheres, foot pounds, Pascals, Bar"# are all used as units of pressure in different parts of the world. As a chemist, usually the most easy, most intuitive unit of pressure to use are #mm# #Hg#, and of course these are units of length not units of pressure.

We know that #1# #atm# will support a column of mercury #760*mm# high. So remember #1*atm-=760*mm*Hg#.