answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Dropped Mercury thermometers account for almost half of the spills that occur each year on campus. Rarely do people have the mercury spill kit required to clean up the half a gram of mercury that can escape from these thermometers. If someone drops a mercury thermometer in your lab, you lose time, money, and possibly your clothing or equipment. Instead, recycle your mercury-filled thermometers through EH&S and we'll deliver a free alcohol-filled thermometer in exchange. Our alcohol thermometers are semi-submersible and measure from -20 to 110ºC to within 1º. They perform most routine laboratory functions that mercury thermometers are used for, such as measuring the temperature of water baths or ambient air. And best of all, when you drop one, all you have to do is wipe up the liquid with a paper towel and throw it away, and place the broken glass in your lab glass bin.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

A home freezer's ideal temperature for storing food is approximately -18 degrees Celsius. Mercury freezes at about -39 degrees Celsius, which is fairly close to the desired freezer temperature and can thus damage the thermometer. Ethanol, a common alcohol used in alcohol thermometers, freezes at -114 degrees Celsius, allowing it to properly function in freezers.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

mercury doesn't freeze till about -30F, so it should work ok for normal freezer temperatures of 0F

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

Alcohol based thermometers must be used in very low temperatures because alcohols may have a freezing point as low as -114 °C, while mercury has a freezing point of -38.83 °C.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why is an alcohol thermometer better than mercury in the freezer?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

What does cimecels mean?

Cimecels has something to do with Mercury being better then Alcohol on a thermometer.


Are alcohol thermometers better than mercury thermometers?

They both have advantages and disadvantages: A mercury-in-glass thermometer can measure high temperature (up to 357 0C, the boiling point of mercury; and its freezing point is -39 0C). An alcohol-in-glass thermometer can measure low temperature (down to -115 0C, the freezing point of alcohol; and its boiling point is 78 0C.) A mercury-in-glass thermometer can quickly response to temperature, while an alcohol-in-glass thermometer can only slowly response to temperature. However, mercury is poisonous and alcohol is NOT poisonous. Also mercury thermometers are not allowed on aircraft.


Would ethanol be better than mercury for an outdoor thermometer in the arctic?

Ethanol would be better because it has a smaller range.


Compare the expansion of mercury with alcohol?

Mercury expands more evenly than alcohol. This is why thermometers that contain mercury are more accurate than those that contain alcohol. However, alcohol freezes at a temperature much lower than mercury, so it is better used in thermometers in extreme cold conditions.


Which is better mercury or alcohol thermometers for low temperature measurements?

alcohol is best for both hot and cold (only in water) mercury is best for fire temps


Can frozen alcohol catch on fire?

I'm not sure but freezing it is the problem you better have a freezer that can go 200 degrees below 0.


Why mercury is use instead of water in a thermometer?

when measure a very hot body with water inside the thermometer, the glass will break or the water will evaporate, similarly if we measure a cold body with the water again the water inside will freeze and we wont know thew correct measure


Why clinical thermometer is jerked before using it again?

If you have an old thermometer that has mercury, then the shaking makes all of the mercury flow to the bottom of the thermometer. Then, you can get a better reading. The current digital ones work differently. Thermometers used for taking people temperatures are a special kind that go up with heat but don't go down with cold. So you have to shake a thermometer before taking your temperature to make the reading go down below your own temperature. Then the thermometer can go up again to read your temperature.


What dangerous liquid used in thermometers?

Mercury would be the dangerous liquid used in thermometers. Many modern thermometers are made without mercury for safety reasons, but if a thermometer breaks and you're not sure, it's better to be careful with the cleanup.


Would it be better to cool a soda faster in the freezer or fridge?

The Freezer.


How long can you keep better in the freezer?

I don't know about you, but I feel worse in the freezer!


Would a horizontal freezer keep cold air in better or a vertical freezer?

ues