A mercury thermometer is a device that measures temperature using a glass tube filled with mercury and a temperature scale. The mercury expands and contracts as the temperature changes, and the level of the mercury in the tube indicates the temperature.
Here’s some more information about mercury thermometers:
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How they workThe mercury is contained in a bulb at the bottom of a sealed glass tube. The tube has a thin channel called the capillary bore that connects the bulb to a chamber where the mercury can expand into. The bulbous end of the tube is called the bulb, and the longer, narrower end with the bore is called the stem. The temperature scale is marked on the stem or on a plate next to it.
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Why mercury is usedMercury is used in thermometers because it expands consistently when heated. For every degree of temperature increase, mercury expands by about 0.018% in volume. This is more useful than alcohol, which expands by about 0.109% for every degree of temperature increase.
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UsesMercury thermometers are used in households, laboratories, and industrial applications. They are also still used for calibration and reference purposes, even though electronic thermometers are more popular.
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HandlingIf a mercury thermometer breaks, you should never touch the mercury with your bare fingers. Instead, you can use a brush, pipette, or Mercurisorb to pick up the mercury.
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