Concern about the use of mercury in chemical  education has resulted in the wholesale removal of mercury-filled barometers from high school and college laboratories. This development eliminates natural opportunities for students to measure one of the few quantities that they can directly determine to four or five significant figures, the use of a vernier scale, and appreciation of the temperature dependence of the density of mercury.  On the other hand, alternatives require understanding of the difference between meterologic and aviation reports of barometric pressure, the dependence of pressure on altitude, and the limitations of reported data.

Teachable moments gained and lost when your mercury-filled barometer is gone

241st National Meeting (2011)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.