It's a liquid over a fair range of temperatures and it expands and contracts noticeably with small changes in temperature.
Mercury expands when heated, and the rate at which it expands can be calibrated in a thermometer to fit to a scale, which you see as the markings in the thermometer. We use mercury because of its ability to expand with just a little amount of heat. Because mercury is poisonous, we now use alcohol thermometers. Alcohol is just as good as mercury because it expands when heat is applied to it as well.
An aural (in ear) thermometer is a good modern device, and measures the temperature in the outer ear. It is more expensive than a mercury clinical thermometer, but is simpler to prepare between patients, and completely avoids the problems of broken glass thermometers, and spilt mercury. Mercury clinical thermometers are however quite cheap.
Mercury has a high coefficient of expansion, which means it expands and contracts significantly with temperature changes, making it very sensitive to even small temperature variations. It remains a liquid at a wide range of temperatures (-39°F to 675°F), making it suitable for measuring both high and low temperatures accurately. Mercury is also a good conductor of heat, allowing for quick response times in temperature measurements.
Putting a thermometer bulb in a flame is a bad idea because the intense heat of the flame can cause the glass to shatter, releasing toxic mercury vapor into the air. This can be harmful to your health and the environment. It can also damage the thermometer and make it inaccurate.
I found a good website to answer your question. The main point is be careful and avoid the mercury vapors. Mercury is poisonous and can easily be spread. http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/survweb/merchome.pdf
Its conductivity.
Mercury is used in thermometers because it is a good conductor of heat and expands uniformly when heated, making it easy to measure temperature accurately. Additionally, mercury remains a liquid at a wide range of temperatures, allowing it to be easily contained within the thermometer.
When the temperature increases, the molecules in the mercury inside the thermometer gain kinetic energy and move more rapidly. This increased movement causes the mercury to expand, leading to a rise in its level within the narrow tube of the thermometer. The expansion of the mercury is a result of its thermal expansion coefficient, which is a measure of how much a material expands or contracts with changes in temperature.
If a mercury thermometer breaks and you come into direct contact with the mercury, it is important to clean it up carefully. Do not touch the mercury with bare hands and do not use a vacuum cleaner. Wear gloves and use a paper towel to carefully clean up the mercury, then dispose of it properly according to local hazardous waste regulations. It is important to minimize exposure to mercury as it is toxic when ingested or inhaled.
you use salt
Copper and brass
The most suitable thermometer for measuring the boiling point of water is a mercury thermometer or a digital thermometer with a high temperature range. These thermometers are able to accurately measure the high temperature of boiling water without being damaged. It is important to ensure that the thermometer is calibrated and accurate for precise measurements.