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The alcohol is volatile, and gas pressure will increase in the space above the liquid, making readings inaccurate (and threatening the integrity of the glass tube). Above about 78 °C (172 °F), ethanol-based thermometer liquids will boil, so these thermometers should not be used.

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Why can't and alcohol thermometer be used to measure the boiling point of water?

Alcohol thermometers typically have a lower maximum temperature range compared to mercury thermometers, making them unsuitable for measuring the high boiling point of water. Alcohol thermometers may not accurately measure temperatures above their boiling point, which is lower than water's boiling point.


Why the mercury is the most used element in many thermometers?

Mercury is commonly used in thermometers because it has a broad liquid temperature range (-39°C to 357°C), a high coefficient of expansion, and is a good conductor of heat. These qualities make it ideal for accurately measuring temperature changes.


What metal element is used to make thermometers?

Mercury is the metal element traditionally used in thermometers due to its ability to expand and contract uniformly with changes in temperature. However, due to its toxicity, mercury thermometers are being phased out in favor of digital alternatives.


Why do you use mercury in thermometers if it is not a good conductor of heat?

- mercury is a liquid metal - cooling and heating are easy reversible - cooling and heating are rapid - the relation between the temperature and the thermal expansion of mercury is linear


Tool used to measure the temperature?

Whilst a thermometer may give an 'estimated' readout of which can be right within a few percent of the actual value, this is not very accurate at all. There are of course several different types of thermometers. Some made with quicksilver. Others made with alcohol. With the development of transistors, we started to develop electronic thermometers of which can work in many different ways. they can measure infrared radiation. they can measure intensity and spectrum of light. they can measure with probes of various metals. The art of measuring temperature is a difficult one. Most thermometers only work accurately within a short range. You would for instance not use a thermometer filled with quicksilver or alcohol in order to measure the temperature in a pot of molten lead! First you need to narrow down the field, then you can begin with the right (mostly costly) thermometer for the task. A piece of copper wire can be used in order to measure temperature between -200 and + 150 degrees Celsius. We know that the resistance in copper changes with a certain percentage per degree Celsius. With a bit of calculations we will be able to calculate the temperature to almost perfection if we only know the exact dimensions of the copper wire used. Whilst our best mathematical efforts show possibilities, we still have to be sure that we measure the resistance to a very high degree of perfection too, but this is another subject.

Related Questions

Is gallium used in thermometers?

Yes, because the melting point of gallium is very low ---- 29,76460C.


Why clinical thermometers are used to measure the temperature of boiling water?

Clinical thermometers are not used to measure the temperature of boiling water! They have a range of about 35oC to 43oC and they will explode at a temperature of about 100oC! Ordinary laboratory thermometers are used.


Are alcohol thermometers better than mercury thermometers?

Both alcohol and mercury thermometers are effective for measuring temperature, but alcohol thermometers are generally safer to use due to the toxicity of mercury. However, mercury thermometers provide more accurate readings at higher temperatures compared to alcohol thermometers.


Why can't and alcohol thermometer be used to measure the boiling point of water?

Alcohol thermometers typically have a lower maximum temperature range compared to mercury thermometers, making them unsuitable for measuring the high boiling point of water. Alcohol thermometers may not accurately measure temperatures above their boiling point, which is lower than water's boiling point.


Why the Six's max min thermometer contain alcohol?

Alcohol is used in Six's max min thermometers because it has a low freezing point and a wide temperature range before boiling, making it suitable for measuring both high and low temperatures accurately. Additionally, alcohol has a high thermal expansion coefficient, allowing the thermometer to respond quickly to temperature changes.


Differences between mercury and alcohol thermometers?

Alcohol is used to measure at low temperatures because it has a lower freezing point than Mercury. Mercury has a higher boiling point than alcohol, mercury boils at around 400 Co and alcohol boils around 80 C0.


What are Disadvantages of alcohol in glass thermometers?

Disadvantages of alcohol in glass thermometers include the risk of breakage and release of the toxic substance, potential for inaccurate readings due to alcohol evaporation or expansion/contraction, and the need for regular calibration to maintain accuracy. Additionally, alcohol thermometers are not suitable for high-temperature measurements.


Why are Different types of thermometers used to measure more extreme temperature?

Different types of thermometers are used to measure more extreme temperatures because each type has different working principles and temperature ranges in which they are most accurate. For example, liquid-in-glass thermometers are suitable for measuring moderate temperatures, while thermocouples are better for measuring very high or very low temperatures. Using specialized thermometers ensures accurate temperature readings in extreme conditions.


Why is mercury used in clinical thermometer and not laboratory thermometer?

Mercury is no longer used much in thermometers due to the poisonous compounds that it forms. When I grew up, in Chemistry at school and at the doctors there were mercury thermometers and alcohol thermometers.


Why the mercury is the most used element in many thermometers?

Mercury is commonly used in thermometers because it has a broad liquid temperature range (-39°C to 357°C), a high coefficient of expansion, and is a good conductor of heat. These qualities make it ideal for accurately measuring temperature changes.


When are alcohol and mercury thermometers used?

Alcohol thermometers are typically used in households for measuring body temperature. Mercury thermometers are used in industrial and laboratory settings for their accuracy and wide temperature range. However, environmentally-friendly alternatives are encouraged due to the toxicity of mercury.


Can mercury and alcohol mixed to become a thermometer?

Mercury and alcohol are not the thermometers but the liquids found in the thermometer they have different properties that make them uniqe for example alcohol is safe while mercury is poisonous,alcohol does not expand uniformly but has great expansion while mercury expands uniformly and has low expansion,alcohol is cheap while mercury is expensive,alcohol wets the glass while mercury does not.so alcohol can not combine to form a thermometer simply because they are the liquids found in it and not the thermometer itself.