2006-10-06 22:41:47 · 17 answers · asked by Rajchem 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Red is alcohol. Mercury is silver colored.
alcohol is much safer to use than mercury, and thus is becoming much more common.
[they put a red colored dye in the alcohol, so you can see it]
2006-10-06 22:47:53 · answer #1 · answered by MrZ 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mercury thermometers should only be used where exact readings are desired. Red thermometers have dyed alchohol in them. If you go to a science specialty store you may find a thermometer with yellow liquid in it and a little black bar-looking thing in it. This is also alchohol, but it is used to find the max temperature and are mainly used for weather purposes. The little bar sticks at the highest point and shows you were the max temp for the day was.
2006-10-07 13:22:48 · answer #2 · answered by C-Dubs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some thermometer have red coloured liquid in them is not a mercury but it is
Alcohol with a red coloured dye to make it more visible( Range is generally minus 10 to 110 degrees centigrades)
(alcohol-in-glass thermometer - thermometer consisting of a glass capillary tube marked with degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit and containing alcohol which rises or falls as it expands or contracts with changes in temperature)
2006-10-07 10:51:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thermometers which have a red coloured liquid in them are alcohol thermometers. People are right when they say that mercury thermometers are no longer used in households - very toxic if broken. BUT . . . .
Mercury thermometers are more accurate than alcohol so in precision work ie laboratories and hospitals mercury thermometers are preferred.
2006-10-07 09:50:07 · answer #4 · answered by mudhonei 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The red liquid is actually alcohol dyed red. Many HOUSEHOLD thermometers use alcohol as it's environmentally friendlier and safer than mercury.
Additionally, low-temperature thermometers use alcohol, as mercury freezes at a much higher temperature than alcohol. Conversely, high-temperature thermometers use mercury, since alcohol boils at a much lower temperature than mercury.
2006-10-07 06:02:25 · answer #5 · answered by philippinericehound 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Actually, mercury is silver in color, considered toxic and expensive so alternative methods for temperature acquisition have been developed. The red is a dyed mineral spirit. Used for lower temperatures. Usually 250C maximum.
2006-10-07 05:50:26 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
most people think that it is mercury, but it's actually not any more... mercury is considered too toxic to use in thermometers... the liquid is still red in color because that's what people expected to see, and it is an easy color to see against a white background.
2006-10-07 06:25:36 · answer #7 · answered by Brooks B 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes. Mercury is the element in most thermometers
2006-10-07 05:43:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
the red liquid is alcohol with red dye
2006-10-07 05:51:46 · answer #9 · answered by oldguy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. mercury is silver. that red colored liquid is alcohol
2006-10-07 06:00:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋