Question

A thermometer of liquid mercury has a volume of 2.5 cm3. If the density of mercury is 13.6 g/mL, then what is the mass of mercury in the thermometer?

Answer 1

Assuming that the volume of a thermometer equals the volume of liquid mercury at the given temperature and density, the mass of mercury can be calculated as (remember that 1cm³ equals 1 mL):

$m(Hg) = \rho·V = 13.6\text{ g/mL}·2.5\text{ mL} = 34$ g.

Answer: the mass of mercury in the thermometer is 34 g.