A thermometer is a device that is used to measure the temperature. ... The main difference between alcohol and mercury thermometer is that the bulb of mercury thermometer is filled with mercury whereas the bulb of alcohol thermometer is filled with an alcohol .
Which is more accurate mercury or alcohol thermometer?
It is more durable than alcohol thermometer because mercury does not evaporate easily. It is smaller in size as compared to alcohol one. Mercury does not wet the wall of the thermometer, which means that results can be highly accurate.
Do alcohol and mercury thermometers read the same?
The operation of these two thermometers is based on the thermal expansion of a fluid. Both mercury and alcohol have different thermal expansion. If both fluids have a thermal expansion coefficients that vary linearly with temperature then they will always show the same reading . Otherwise the readings will deviate.
Can we use alcohol instead of mercury in thermometer?
The alcohol thermometer or spirit thermometer is an alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometer and has similar functions. Unlike the mercury-in-glass thermometer, the contents of an alcohol thermometer are less toxic and will evaporate quickly.
Why is my mercury thermometer at a different height than my alcohol thermometer?
The main reason why the level of liquid in each thermometer is different is that they are different substances with different properties . The molecules that make up the alcohol have different attractions for each other than the atoms that make up the mercury.
Which expands more alcohol or mercury?
Mercury has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than alcohol. This means a column of mercury will expand and rise more than a column of alcohol for the same temperature change. As a result, you can get finer readings with mercury.
What are the disadvantages of alcohol thermometer?
| advantages disadvantages | Alcohol thermometer (compared to a mercury thermometer) | lower freezing point (-114 C) less durable (alcohol evaporates) | larger coefficient of expansion alcohol can polymerise | less hazardous fluid loss by evaporation hard to avoid |
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What are the disadvantages of mercury?
- It cannot measure very low temperature, because its freezing point is high (-40oC)
- Mercury is poisonous, so it harmful if its tube is broken.
- Its price is very high.
- display is harder to read.
- cannot be used for thermograph.
- slow response.
- fragile.
Why don't we use alcohol in clinical thermometer?
Alcohol is not used in a clinical thermometer. It cannot measure the high temperatures because of its low boiling point . Mercury is used in a clinical thermometer. Alcohol is used in a laboratory thermometer instead of a clinical thermometer.
Why is mercury a good choice for thermometer?
Mercury is the only one in liquid state at room temperature. It's used in thermometers because it has high coefficient of expansion . ... It also has a high boiling point which makes it very suitable to measure higher temperatures. Also, it has a shiny appearance and doesn't stick to the glass surface of glass.
When did they stop putting mercury in thermometers?
Those days have passed. Since 2001 , 20 states have banned mercury “fever thermometers” for medical use, and regulations tighten every year.
What happens if you break a mercury thermometer?
If you break a mercury thermometer or light bulb, a small amount of liquid mercury may spill out . Liquid mercury can separate into small beads, which can roll some distance away. The mercury may also evaporate into vapour. However, this small amount of mercury is extremely unlikely to cause problems for your health.
Can you still get mercury thermometers?
Although mercury thermometers have been mostly phased out of daily home use, the tool, which was invented in the 1700s by Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, remains a standard measuring device for many industries, including regulating the temperature of a chemical concoction being made in an industrial lab, and monitoring the ...
Why does alcohol expand more than mercury?
Alcohol expands more than mercury because of its low density and volatile nature . Mercury thermometers have the advantage of being small and compact due to its low expansion. ... Alcohol thermometers can be used to measure lower temperatures than mercury thermometers.
Does alcohol expand more than water?
Why does alcohol expand more than water? A given volume of alcohol and the same volume of water are heated from the room temperature to the same temperature then. alcohol expands more than water because the co. efficient of expansion of alcohol is more than that of water.
Which thermometer contains alcohol and mercury?
The alcohol thermometer or spirit thermometer
