Why is water no longer used in thermometers?

Why is water no longer used in thermometers?

Water cannot be used in thermometer because of its higher freezing point and lower boiling point than other liquids . This range is very small as compared to other liquids as mercury , having freezing point about −39oC and boiling point 356oC .

Why did they take mercury out of thermometers?

The reason: Mercury released into the environment from a broken thermometer is highly poisonous. Pure mercury and its compounds can cause neurological problems and other ailments in people exposed to them. Federal and state authorities have lobbied since 2002 for bans on medical mercury thermometers.

What is the liquid in a thermometer and why does the level change?

Item AM042005: When a glass thermometer is placed in hot water, the level of liquid rises because the molecules get farther apart. A glass thermometer has a colored liquid inside it. The level of colored liquid rises when the thermometer is placed in hot water.

Is absolute 0 possible?

Absolute zero, technically known as zero kelvins, equals −273.15 degrees Celsius, or -459.67 Fahrenheit, and marks the spot on the thermometer where a system reaches its lowest possible energy, or thermal motion. There’s a catch, though: absolute zero is impossible to reach.

What is the temperature of a healthy person?

The average normal body temperature is generally accepted as 98.6°F (37°C). Some studies have shown that the “normal” body temperature can have a wide range, from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C).

How does a liquid thermometer work for temperature?

The precision of this method varies by the liquid used, but all use the fact that when most liquids are heated, they expand. Common types of liquid thermometers use mercury, toluene or less toxic biodegradable liquids. The thermal expansion of liquids in normal temperatures is generally slight, but is fully sufficient for liquid thermometers.

How is the length of a thermometer affected by temperature?

The History of the Thermometer. In a mercury or alcohol thermometer, the liquid expands as it is heated and contracts when it is cooled, so the length of the liquid column is longer or shorter depending on the temperature. Modern thermometers are calibrated in standard temperature units such as Fahrenheit (used in the United States)…

What happens to the liquid column in a mercury thermometer?

In a mercury or alcohol thermometer, the liquid expands as it is heated and contracts when it is cooled, so the length of the liquid column is longer or shorter depending on the temperature.

What causes a thermometer bulb to rise or sink?

The clear liquid in which the bulbs are submerged is not water, but some organic compound (such as ethanol) the density of which varies with temperature more than water does. Temperature changes affect the density of the outer clear liquid and this causes the bulbs to rise or sink. This section needs additional citations for verification.

The precision of this method varies by the liquid used, but all use the fact that when most liquids are heated, they expand. Common types of liquid thermometers use mercury, toluene or less toxic biodegradable liquids. The thermal expansion of liquids in normal temperatures is generally slight, but is fully sufficient for liquid thermometers.

The History of the Thermometer. In a mercury or alcohol thermometer, the liquid expands as it is heated and contracts when it is cooled, so the length of the liquid column is longer or shorter depending on the temperature. Modern thermometers are calibrated in standard temperature units such as Fahrenheit (used in the United States)…

In a mercury or alcohol thermometer, the liquid expands as it is heated and contracts when it is cooled, so the length of the liquid column is longer or shorter depending on the temperature.

How does an alcohol thermometer tell the temperature?

Alcohol thermometer. For the working temperature range, the meniscus or interface between the liquid is within the capillary. With increasing temperature, the volume of liquid expands and the meniscus moves up the capillary. The position of the meniscus shows the temperature against an inscribed scale.