Table of Contents
What are the advantages of using mercury in thermometer?
Advantages
- It is a good conductor of heat and hence, can measure even high temperatures.
- It gives results quickly – has a fast response time.
- It expands linearly and less than alcohol and any other liquid.
- It is more durable than alcohol thermometer because mercury does not evaporate easily.
What are the dangers of using mercury?
Health effects of mercury exposure The inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
What does mercury do in a thermometer?
In a mercury thermometer, a glass tube is filled with mercury and a standard temperature scale is marked on the tube. With changes in temperature, the mercury expands and contracts, and the temperature can be read from the scale. Mercury thermometers can be used to determine body, liquid, and vapor temperature.
Why is alcohol used in a thermometer?
Alcohol thermometer uses alcohol as the liquid to measure the temperature variations. Alcohol expands when it absorbs temperature and contract in colder temperatures. Most commonly used alcohol in these is ethanol, but different types of alcohols can be used depending on the measured temperature and environment in which the measurements are taken.
Do candy thermometers contain mercury?
A candy thermometer is a type of large, glass mercury thermometer that measures candy syrups during cooking. It does for sugar what a meat thermometer does for meats, with the only difference being that the candy thermometer can read higher levels of temperature.
Is alcohol in thermometer?
Alcohol thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with alcohol as the temperature sensor. The liquid inside the bulb can be pure ethanol, toluene , kerosene or any other suitable component depending on the application.