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How can you tell if a lab thermometer contains mercury a toxic substance?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Just look at the rise or drop in the level of the liquid inside (Mercury), which is usually colored red or blue or yellow, it's definitely easy and if it's grey, pay close attention. Look across for the calibrated reading and record in degree Celsius.
More Detail: After taking the person's temperature, hold the thermometer up to a light where you can see the mercury line and the numbers. The higher the temp, the higher the mercury line will go. You will have to turn (rotate) the thermometer until you can clearly see the number and the lines between the numbers, much like on a ruler. The thermometer will have whole numbers, but not all of them have all of the numbers. The point at which you see where the mercury end is what the temperature is.
For example, mine starts at 96, then goes to 98, then 100, etc. There are lines between the numbers 96 and 98, indicating 97, 99, etc., and there are also lines indicating the degree of the temperature in 10ths. If you take a person's temperature, and they have a fever of 99.8, then the end of the mercury line will be two lines below 100 degrees. If they have a fever of 100.5, then the mercury line will be five lines past the number 100. Most thermometers in the U.S. are in Fahrenheit, which will give you a different reading than one that measures the temperature in Celsius, so be sure you know which type you have.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
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Why is there a need for us to shake the clinical thermometer prior to each use?
If the clinical thermometer is a mercury based thermometer, it needs to be shaken down prior to each use. This is because there is a pinch point between the mercury reservoir bulb and the capillary tube, to ensure that the mercury does not shrink back into the bulb after the temperature has been taken. The mercury has therefore to be shaken back into the bulb before another measurement can be made. One should note that in many countries use of mercury based clinical thermometers is now discouraged (because mercury is toxic) and electronic thermometers are used in stead - these do not need shaking.
Why do people use alcohol in thermometers instead of water?
Firstly, mercury has a freezing point of about -38Co. So a mercury thermometer cannot be used below this. Alcohols have a much lower freezing point, some around -100Co . Thus they are useful at much lower temperatures. Though alcohols are usually colourless, they can easily be dyed, usually red or blue. Alcohols however have lower boiling points, and this limits the maximum temperature at which they may be used.
What is the most sour substance on earth?
toxic waste sour candy, the sourest candy in the world. I guess it counts for substance too.
Is there such a thing as a non-toxic substance?
Not really. Even water can be dangerous sometimes (in drinking, not drowning).
How can you remember hg means mercury on the periodic table?
This is kind of a silly answer, but it works. Mercury is Hg. Mercury is toxic, and in a nutshell, mercury poising causes madness. (Think of the mad hatter from Alice and Wonderland - he had mercury poisoning.) Happy gas also makes you be silly. So Hg = Happy gas = silly = mercury.Hope my silly method helps!
How is mercury used in a thermometer?
toxic poison
Would you rather use alcohol or Mercury in a thermometer?
Alcohol. Mercury is very toxic.
Why isn't mercury in thermometers any more?
I don't know to what extent mercury is still being used, but it makes sense to phase it out: mercury is extremely toxic. If a mercury thermometer breaks, you have to be careful not to breathe the vapors.I don't know to what extent mercury is still being used, but it makes sense to phase it out: mercury is extremely toxic. If a mercury thermometer breaks, you have to be careful not to breathe the vapors.I don't know to what extent mercury is still being used, but it makes sense to phase it out: mercury is extremely toxic. If a mercury thermometer breaks, you have to be careful not to breathe the vapors.I don't know to what extent mercury is still being used, but it makes sense to phase it out: mercury is extremely toxic. If a mercury thermometer breaks, you have to be careful not to breathe the vapors.
Is the silver used inside the thermos toxic?
What looks silver in a glass thermometer is actually mercury, which is toxic.
What happens when you touch thermometer Mercury?
It doesn't sound like a good idea to experiment with this - mercury is quite toxic.
Why mountaineers carry alcohol thermometer with them rather than mercury thermometer?
mercury freezes at -39 and alcohol can be used under weather.
Is there river in Mercury?
mercury in the flesh of the fish it contains a high amount of mercury was a heavy metal that can be toxic to human
Do pool thermometers contain mercury?
Most pool thermometers do not contain mercury. An easy way to tell if a pool thermometer contains mercury is if it sinks to the bottom of the pool rather than float.
What is the advantage and disadvantage of using alcohol in thermometer?
u don't have to flick the thermometer to reset the temperature reading when you use an alcohol based thermometer (unlike a mercury thermometer where you have to flick and flick and flick flick flick that thermometer for the mercury to be reset so that you can make an accurate reading) a disadvantage is that the alcohol thermometer is slightly less acurate The biggest advantage is that alcohol is not nearly as toxic as mercury, so that if the thermometer breaks, you won't be poisoned.
Which alcohol is used in thermometer?
The alcohol that is not ever but ao used ts is ethyl, as it is cheaper than mercury and not toxic
Why is alchohol also used in thermometer?
Mercury is toxic and a heavy metal and thus alcohol is a less toxic alternative. Also, mercury will react with aluminum to form an amalgam and can rapidly damage an aircraft superstructure. Alcohol will not do this.
Is liquid crystal toxic?
Yes, it contains mercury, and arsenic. Don't drink it.
