Does Spilled Mercury Exceed EPA Air Quality Limits in the Lab?

  • Thread starter knottlena
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In summary, the researcher breaks a thermometer and spills most of the mercury on the floor of a laboratory measuring 15.2 m long, 6.6 m wide, and 2.4 m high. The concentration of mercury must be determined to see if it exceeds the EPA air quality regulation of 0.050 mg Hg/m3 of air. Using the ideal gas law and the dimensions of the room, the volume of the room is calculated to be 2.4 x 10^5 L. However, the amount of mercury spilled is not given, making it impossible to calculate the concentration.
  • #1
knottlena
6
0
The Answer is "Yes", but I need to show HOW. Plz Help.

Homework Statement


A researcher breaks a thermometer & spills most of the mercury in it on the floor of a laboratory that measures 15.2 m Long, 6.6 m Wide, & 2.4 m High. Does the concetration of mercury exceed the EPA air quality regulation of .050 mg Hg/m3 of air? (Temp of the rm is 20 degrees celcius; the vapor pressure of mercury at this temp is 1.7 x 10 to -6th atm.)


Homework Equations


PV=nRT & LxWxH


The Attempt at a Solution


LxWxH=240.77 m3 x 100 to the 3rd power=2.4x10 to the 8th cm3 x 1mL/1cm3=2.4x10 to the 8th/1000 L = 2.4 x 10 to the 5th L
Hg = 200.59g/mol
n=PV/RT (1.7 x10 to -6th)(2.4 x 10 to the 5th)/ (.0821 Latm/mol K) (293K) = 1.4 x 10 to the 3rd mol

I just don't know where to go from here. I know the answer is 14.1 mg/m3, but I can't figure out how the teacher got there. HELP PLEase. Thank you in advance.
 
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  • #2


You have not said how much mercury is spilled.
 
  • #3


My professor did not offer up that information in the question. A couple other students in my class were able to solve it with the information given, but I am at a loss. I appreciate you trying :)
 
  • #4


Think about it backwards. You need to wind up with a density of mercury vapor. What quantities do you need in order to calculate that density?
 
  • #5


Check your calculation for n. I think your answer shown is much too large.
 
  • #6


Thank you
 

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