0
How do you know if its mercury or alcohol your thermometer broke in and around the pool Help?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Mercury is a metal so it will sink to the bottom of the pool where an alcohol will float.
Actually, it's more likely that alcohol will simply disperse into the pool; low molecular weight alcohols are extremely soluble. A simpler way to tell is the color: mercury is silver and looks, well, metallic; alcohol in thermometers is generally colored either red or blue simply to make it easier to see. (A lot of people think mercury is red, but it isn't. Some mercury COMPOUNDS such as cinnabar are red, but those are not used in thermometers.)
The fact that the liquid in the thermometer is metallic does not necessarily mean that it is mercury; it might be a gallium alloy. However, since mercury is toxic, if you're not sure it's probably safer to assume that it was mercury and treat the spill accordingly.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Can the liquid in a Galileo thermometer harm you if spilled?
the outside liquid is not dangerous as it is just water but the liquid inside the glass floating balls are highly dangerous and toxic, and can contain acidic and corrosive liquids. if one of the liquids looks metal looking it will most likely be mercury which is a dangerous liquid.
Why is mercury a special metal and where is it used?
It's a liquid at room temperature is the main reason that it's special. It used to be used in thermometers but since they broke all the time and mercury is posion to humans in large ammounts and doesn't leave the body they are no longer made.
Does meteors is planets or moons?
Meteors are pieces of either moons or planets that broke off and are freely floating around in place t'ill they get attracted by a planets gravitational pull.
What is a piece of rock in orbit around the Sun called?
It is either an asteroid (if reasonably large) or a meteoroid (if smaller). Some meteoroid swarms are the remnants of comets that lost their volatile compounds and broke up into pieces.
Do cactus thorns cause warts?
No -- they don't cause warts. However, they may cause wart-like lesions or cysts that form around tiny pieces of the thorn that broke off and remained in the wound.
If an alcohol thermometer broke would it smell bad and would there be any issues?
The main risk would be cuts from the broken glass.
Is mercury red in thermometers?
The planet Mercury is grey, similar in colour and general appearance to our moon. Red Mercury is a chemical made of Iodine and Mercury. It was used as a medicine a long time ago before people realised it was actually poisonous. It is either in the form Mercury(I) iodide or Mercury(II) iodide.
I broke my mother's thermometer - what should you do - I am so scared?
Admitting fault is a good thing. Yes, you might get into trouble but honesty is the best policy.
What happens when you touch liquid mercury with your bare hands?
Nothing. The only thing that can harm you is its vapor, so if you broke a thermometer, just clear the room and make sure it gets aired out before you go in to pick it up. If you just wanted to touch it yourself, go ahead. It only harms you if you handle it in mass quantitis.
Driving Mercury Villager 1997 at 60 mph the timing belt broke Do the pistons hits the valves?
No-
When I am driving my 2002 mercury mountaineer the windshield wipers don't turn off why is that?
Because they broke yo!
How do you replace broken temp gauge on a 96 Mercury Mystique?
You sure it is the gauge that is broke? I bet it is the sending unit.
When reformers pushed for the passage of the 18th amendment what did they argue?
Alcohol caused crime and broke up families.
How much is a 1978 mercury 20 hp boat motor worth?
If it runs perfectly, starts easy, etc, probably around $700-$1000. If something is broke and/it is missing parts or incomplete, $200-$400 as a parts motor.
How do you get a hood open after the hood latch cable broke on a Ford Taurus Mercury Sable?
pry bar and duc tape
What age can a pony be broken?
any age.....but horses should be halter broke at around 1 yr, and Saddle/Bridle broke around 3 or 4
Why does my 1997 mercury mountaneer awd only goes in reverse?
There could be a few reasons on why your 1977 Mercury Mountaineer is not going in reverse. The most common thing that could be wrong with it would be the gears are broke.
