Question

What is the pressure in atmospheres, if the pressure is reported to be `854*mm*Hg`?

Answer 1

I do not know why we seem to be getting a lot of questions that quote pressures of `>760*mm*Hg............`

Explanation:

One atmosphere of pressure will support of column of mercury that is `760*mm` high. And thus we can use a colume on mercury to measure pressures that ARE LESS than `1*atm`, i.e `<760*mm*Hg`.

Given your problem, I suppose we could state that `854*"Torr"-=(854*"mm Hg")/(760 *"mm Hg"*atm^-1)=1.12*atm`. I really find the use of these units objectionable, because if you get a mercury spill in the lab, you have a major clean-up job, and guess who is going to do it?

And thus your question has not been consistently proposed. The pressure is LOWER at `1.12*atm`; i.e. it is expanded not compressed. Would you review this problem?