Why is alcohol a better liquid in a thermometer than mercury?
Unlike mercury in the mercury thermometer, alcohol is less toxic and evaporates quickly. But the maximum temperature measured by an alcohol thermometer is 78.5°C; hence this thermometer is suitable for measuring lower temperatures.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of mercury and alcohol thermometer?
A thermometer comparison
| advantages | disadvantages |
|---|---|
| mercury vapour is poisonous | |
| Alcohol thermometer (compared to a mercury thermometer) | |
| lower freezing point (-114 �C) | less durable (alcohol evaporates) |
| larger coefficient of expansion | alcohol can polymerise |
Why do thermometers use alcohol instead of water?
As alcohol evaporates at a much faster rate compared with water due to its lower boiling temperature (82 compared to 100 degrees C), it is able to carry away more heat from the skin. This means for a given amount of time much more alcohol evaporates than water.
How do you clean a mercury spilled thermometer?
Slowly and carefully squeeze mercury onto a damp paper towel. Alternatively, use two pieces of cardboard paper to roll the mercury beads onto the paper towel or into the bag. Place the paper towel in a zip locking bag and secure. Make sure to label the bag as directed by your local health or fire department.
Can we use alcohol instead of mercury in thermometers?
Ethanol-filled thermometers are used in preference to mercury for meteorological measurements of minimum temperatures and can be used down to −70 °C (−94 °F).
Why are thermometers preferred to mercury thermometers?
1. Digital thermometers provide faster results. Digital thermometers provide fast results as opposed to mercury thermometers whose readings are slower to realize because you have to wait for the mercury to heat and then slowly rise to display the temperature.
Why is a mercury thermometer more accurate?
Digital thermometers provide faster results Mercury thermometers are designed utilizing the idea that mercury expands with heat. Mercury is used because it remains liquid throughout various temperatures as opposed to water, which freezes in colder temperatures.
What is the advantage of mercury 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.
What is better in a thermometer mercury or alchohol?
¤ Since alcohol is non toxic, alcohol thermometers are much safer to use than the mercury thermometers. ¤ Alcohol thermometers can be used to measure very low temperatures. Since mercury has a higher boiling point than alcohol, mercury thermometer can be used to measure high temperatures.
Why is a laboratory thermometer use alcohol instead of mercury?
Alcohol is used in a laboratory thermometer instead of a clinical thermometer because alcohol has a very low freezing point as comparison to the Mercury. It is used in the cool place or region. Freezing point is the temperature at which a liquid starts changing into solid state.
How accurate are Mercury and alcohol thermometers?
Unlike mercury in the mercury thermometer, alcohol is less toxic and evaporates quickly. But the maximum temperature measured by an alcohol thermometer is 78.5°C; hence this thermometer is suitable for measuring lower temperatures. It is a better choice to measure daytime and nighttime temperature, body temperature, etc.
What can be used in thermometers Besides mercury?
Remain liquid over the range of temperatures the thermometer is intended to measure