The equilibrium vapor pressure of mercury at roomtemperature is about 1.6x10-6 atm. Imagine an old chemistry labthat over the years has experienced enough liquid mercury spillsand thereby accumulated enough mercury in cracks in the floor, etc.that mercury liquid-vapor equilibrium has been established. What isthe concentration, in the units of milligrams per cubic meter, ofHg0 in the air of the room? Does this value exceed the limit of0.05 mg m-3 established by the American Conference of GovernmentalIndustrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for safe exposure based upon a40-hour work week?
