Elemental Mercury changes to solid-state at -38.8oC, so anything below that will not be recorded. Most places in the world, this isn't important, but at both poles temperatures can drop below this temperature, so for accurate temperature recording, a mercury thermometer is inappropriate.
That said, if it's for your own personal use, the difference between -38 and -40 is irrelevant, it's just plain cold!
Temperature is typically measured using a thermometer. Thermometers can use various mechanisms to determine temperature, such as expansion of liquids (like mercury or alcohol), electrical resistance, or infrared sensors.
A thermometer is the most common apparatus used to measure temperature. It typically contains a liquid such as mercury or alcohol that expands or contracts in response to temperature changes, allowing the user to read the temperature from a scale. More modern thermometers may use digital technology to provide temperature readings.
Using a clinical thermometer to measure a hot drink can result in inaccurate readings as most clinical thermometers are not designed to measure temperatures of hot drinks. This can damage the thermometer and give false temperature values. It is recommended to use a thermometer specifically designed for measuring high temperatures in such cases.
A higher resolution on a thermometer means that it can measure smaller changes in temperature, which can be useful in certain situations where precise temperature readings are needed. However, for general household use, a standard resolution thermometer would be sufficient.
Mercury is the mineral that is traditionally used in thermometers because of its unique properties, such as its high thermal expansion and conductivity. However, due to its toxicity, digital thermometers now use safer alternatives like alcohol or digital sensors.
because it would turn to ice and alcohol wouldn't
No, it is not safe to use rubbing alcohol in a simple thermometer. Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant and can affect the accuracy of the thermometer readings. It is recommended to use a thermometer as per the manufacturer's instructions.
The colour makes the alcohol easier to see inside the thin glass thermometer.
Yes, it can and you can purchase thermometers which use alcohol.
Olaus Roemer
To clean a thermometer with rubbing alcohol, it is generally recommended to use enough alcohol to wet a cotton ball or pad. You can then gently swab the thermometer with the alcohol-soaked cotton to disinfect it before rinsing with water.
Alcohol is a safer choice for a thermometer liquid as it is not as toxic as mercury, making it safer for both human health and the environment. Mercury can be harmful if it leaks or is accidentally ingested, whereas alcohol is less harmful if exposed.
u don't have to flick the thermometer to reset the temperature reading when you use an alcohol based thermometer (unlike a mercury thermometer where you have to flick and flick and flick flick flick that thermometer for the mercury to be reset so that you can make an accurate reading) a disadvantage is that the alcohol thermometer is slightly less acurate The biggest advantage is that alcohol is not nearly as toxic as mercury, so that if the thermometer breaks, you won't be poisoned.
We still use colored alcohol for our liquid in everyday thermometers.
I would use a thermometer.
The liquid in a clinical thermometer is often mercury. But there are thermometers that use a coloured alcohol.
alcohol thermometer is used to measure very low temperature.i.e.-112*c