Answer to Question #145786 in General Chemistry for Jules

Question

101.325 kPa (kilopascal) = 1 atm = 760 mm Hg = 14.7 psi


In an airplane, the pressurization systems are designed to keep the interior cabin pressure at 11.5 psi at cruise altitude. What is this pressure in atm? In mmHg?

Answer 1

Q145786

101.325 k Pa (kilo-pascal) = 1 atm = 760 mm Hg = 14.7 psi

In an air plane, the pressurization systems are designed to keep the interior cabin pressure at 11.5 psi at cruise altitude. What is this pressure in atm? In mm Hg?

Solution:

We are told to convert 11.5 psi to atm and also in mm Hg.

Part I : Convert 11.5 psi to atm.

1 atm = 14.7 psi

In question, we are given 1atm = 14.7 psi. Using this we can convert 11.5 psi to ‘atm’ .

We will arrange the conversion factor in such a way that initial units ‘ psi’ get canceled and

our final answer is in ‘atm’

Pressure in ‘ atm’ = 11.5 psi * 1 atm/ 14.7 psi = 0.7823 atm.

In question, we are given 11.5 psi in 3 significant figures, so our final answer must also be in

3 significant figure.

So the interior cabin pressure in ‘atm’ is 0.782 atm.

Part II : Convert 11.5 psi to ‘mm Hg’ .

760 mm Hg = 14.7 psi

We will arrange the conversion factor in the same way as we did in Part I.

Arrange the conversion factor in such a way that the initial unit ‘psi’ get canceled and final answer is in

‘mm Hg’ .

Pressure in ‘mm Hg’ = 11.5 psi * 760 mm Hg/ 14.7 psi = 594.6 mm Hg.

In 3 significant figure, the answer would be 595 mm Hg

So the interior cabin pressure in ‘mm Hg’ is 595 mm Hg.