0
Why are alcohol thermometers not used for measuring high temperature?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What metal element is used to make thermometers?
it is mercury. its actually a liquid at room temperature.
Why can't a laboratory thermometer be used to measure the temperature of volcanic lava?
It would melt. The temperature of lava (molten rock) is as hot as liquid metal, and lab thermometers are typically metal and glass. Thermometers made from ceramic might survive, but they are not calibrated for that high a temperature, which is typically 700 to 1,200 °C (1,292 to 2,192 °F). Lava temperatures are usually measured indirectly at a distance of at least a few meters away, using the passive thermometers found in industrial blast furnaces.
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.
What is the name for the instrument used to measure temperature?
Most commonly, a thermometer.Related Information:Thermometers are used to measure the increase or decrease in the temperature of a system as it gains or loses internal energy.An alcohol-in-glass thermometer has been the most common personal instrument used to measure temperature. Mercury thermometers are still around but are no longer offered for sale. Today, digital devices are available that scan the forehead or ear. Some other devices used to measure temperature are:Radiation pyrometer, for extremely high temperatures;Glass thermometer: mercury or alcohol;Thermocouple;Thermistor (thermal resistor)Bimetallic strip;Bimetallic spiral;Platinum resistance thermometer (a resistance detector);Examples:A mercury in glass thermometer uses mercury liquid contained within its glass structure to be subjected to heat.the heat causes the mercury fluid to expand along the glass tubeand the total amount of expansion can be seen as a measurealong the accurate scale of indication.This is a direct indication of the effects of temperature.A more complex method of measuring temperature could be athermocouple measuring device.A thermocouple consists of 2 dissimilar types of metal materials in the form of wires , which are joined at 1 end by weld/ fusion.this single joined end is called the hot junction. The other end of the 2 wires are then terminated at separate junctions;as in a electronic terminal block. This end of the 2 wires can be called the cold junction.For most accurate temperature measure, I think temperature sensor is the first choice.
That is the temperature of air during a Temperature inversion?
high
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.
What two substances are used in the thermometer's glass tube?
MERCURY is commonly used in thermometers designed for medical and elevated temperatures, and ALCOHOL (with a coloured dye) is used in medical and very low temperature thermometers. Both these use glass tubes. Very high temperature thermometers contain Gallium, which is a liquid at room temperature, in a quartz tube.
Why are thermometers so important can people die if their temperature is too high or low?
Thermometers are important in order to tell exactly what a person's temperature is. A person can die from having a temperature that is either too high or too low.
What metal element is used to make thermometers?
it is mercury. its actually a liquid at room temperature.
What element is used in high temperature thermometers?
This element is gallium (Ga).
Is gallium used in thermometers?
Yes, because the melting point of gallium is very low ---- 29,76460C.
What instrument measures higher temperature?
Special thermometers for high temperatures, thermistors, thermoresistances, thermocouples, infrared detectors.
Why are Different types of thermometers used to measure more extreme temperature?
For example pyrometers for very high temperatures.
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 is the advantage between a bimetallic thermometer and an ordinary thermometer?
If you mean by an "ordinary" thermometer, a mercury thermometer, the bimetallic type can measure a far greater range of temperature (mercury freezes at -38oC and boils at 356oC making it useless in the polar regions or for measuring high temperatures).Bimetallic thermometers are also more robust; mercury thermometers are usually made from glass and are fragile.
Alcohol is this process affected by temperature?
Yes, temperature affect the concentration of alcohol. Alcohol is made up of ethanol, high temperature oxidised ethanol to ethanoic acid so the concentration of alcohol decrease.
Which instrument is used for measuring very high temperature?
A thermocouple can be used.
