The normal boiling point of water is 100.0 C. Do you expect the boiling point of water to be greater than, less than, or equal to 100.0 C on top of Mt. Whitney, CA where the atmospheric pressure is significantly different than 760 Torr?
The boiling point of a liquid depends on the atmospheric pressure. As you move to higher altitudes, the atmospheric pressure decreases. Therefore, on top of Mt. Whitney, where the atmospheric pressure is significantly lower than 760 Torr (which is the standard pressure at sea level), we would expect the boiling point of water to be lower than 100.0°C.
To determine whether the boiling point of water on top of Mt. Whitney, CA would be greater than, less than, or equal to 100.0 C, we need to consider the relationship between atmospheric pressure and boiling point.
The boiling point of a substance is defined as the temperature at which its vapor pressure equals the atmospheric pressure. In normal conditions at sea level, the atmospheric pressure is generally considered to be 760 Torr.
At higher altitudes like Mt. Whitney, the atmospheric pressure decreases because the air density decreases with increasing elevation. As a result, the boiling point of water will also decrease.
To get a more accurate comparison, we can use a reference table or graph that shows the boiling points of water at different altitudes or atmospheric pressures. From such a reference, we can find the boiling point associated with the specific atmospheric pressure on top of Mt. Whitney.
Once we have the boiling point at that particular pressure, we can compare it to 100.0 C to determine if it is greater than, less than, or equal to 100.0 C.
Therefore, without knowing the specific atmospheric pressure on top of Mt. Whitney, CA, it is not possible to definitively determine whether the boiling point of water would be greater than, less than, or equal to 100.0 C in that location.