2006-12-09 06:12:11 · 9 answers · asked by sam s 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
I'd say that the boiling points might have something to do with that decision. I don't want my liquid to boil in my thermometer. Mercury has a high boiling point even if it has a low freezing point as metals go.
2006-12-09 06:17:49 · answer #1 · answered by Jack 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethyl alcohol boils at 78.3 degrees C, Mercury boils at 356.9 degrees C. The glass tubes that are in thermometers are in a near vacuum I think and depend on the thermal expansion of the liquid in them. If the liquid were to boil then you would get condensation in the thermometer and a broken line in the tube. I know that liquids also expand as the temperature rises but not as well as some metals like mercury. I believe the liquid in most thermometers is something like Methyl Cloride? Not sure. Mercury is a heavy metal and when ingested can cause heavy metal poisoning. Remember the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. The term comes from hatters in England using Mercury to cure the beaver pelts that they made the hats from. The long term exposure to Mercury caused them to go mad, hence the term Mad Hatter or Mad as a Hatter.
2006-12-09 15:02:15 · answer #2 · answered by RobertB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mercury is not used in most thermometers it is alcohol but some people still use high tech thermometers, so the reason is the melting point is very high. Just remember mercury is very poisonous.
2006-12-09 08:18:29 · answer #3 · answered by gregory s 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol has a lowish boiling point - around 70 degrees C.
(remember this when you mull your wine - you lose all the alcohol if you allow it to boil merrily)
Alcohol has a low freezing point (you can use it in ices to make them softer when they come out of the freezer).
Mercury boils at a very high temperature ( higher than we are likely to get in our weather) It solidifies at low weather temperatures.
2006-12-09 07:51:35 · answer #4 · answered by rosie recipe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the difference in boiling points. the latter type of thermometer is good for reading temps. below -30 degrees as mercury freezes at that low temp.
2006-12-12 10:23:50 · answer #5 · answered by weatherbuff900 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mercury would be safer in lower temperature because of the fact that when it gots hot, it gives off toxic vapours. This could explode out of the thermometer when it get over-hot
2006-12-09 06:21:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
also, mercury makes a better thermometer (more accurate), but it's so poisonous that we'd really rather not use it if we don't have to.
2006-12-09 10:05:50 · answer #7 · answered by tedschram 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mercury freezes at around -40C and boils at around 400C, which makes it good for measuring the temperature of hot objects. But alcohol boils at around 72C, but it freezes at around -120C, making it very effective for measuring cold objects. (also, alcohol tends to combust at high heats) (water freezes at 0C and boils at 100C)
2016-05-22 23:12:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it has to do with the boil point of mercury vs. alcohol.
2006-12-09 06:19:17 · answer #9 · answered by Melissa J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋