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These days, mercury is considered too risky to use in thermometers (due to the risk of them breaking and contaminating people). Alternate techniques are used today in clinical thermometer, including electronic thermometers and ones based on liquid crystals that aren't as harmful should they leak out and even contactless infrared thermometers.

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Mercury was used in clinical thermometers due to:

  • Its high thermal expansion (25 °C) 60.4  µm·m−1·K−1
  • Linearity in thermal expansion
  • Sensitivity to rise in temperature
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12y ago
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5mo ago

Mercury is used in clinical thermometers because it has a high coefficient of expansion, which means it expands uniformly with temperature changes, providing accurate temperature readings. Additionally, mercury remains liquid at a wide range of temperatures, making it suitable for measuring both normal and fever temperatures.

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Q: Why is mercury used in clinical thermometers?
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Are digital and clinical thermometers same?

Digital and clinical thermometers are not necessarily the same. Digital thermometers can encompass a wider range of types, including both clinical and non-clinical variations. Clinical thermometers, on the other hand, are specifically designed for medical use to measure body temperature accurately.


What liquid is inside thermometers?

Most traditional thermometers contain mercury as the liquid inside. However, modern thermometers use alcohol or a similar non-toxic liquid.


Why mercury used in clinical thermometer?

These days, Mercury is considered too risky to use in thermometers (due to the risk of them breaking and contaminating people). Alternate techniques are used today in clinical thermometer, including electronic thermometers and ones based on liquid crystals that aren't as harmful should they leak out and even contactless infrared thermometers..Mercury was used in clinical thermometers due to:Its high thermal expansion (25 °C) 60.4  µm·m−1·K−1Linearity in thermal expansionSensitivity to rise in temperature


What are the three general types of clinical thermometer?

The three general types of clinical thermometers are digital, infrared, and mercury or glass. Digital thermometers are easy to read and give quick results, while infrared thermometers are non-contact and measure temperature by detecting infrared energy. Mercury or glass thermometers are traditional but are being phased out due to environmental concerns.


How are mercury thermometers used today?

Mercury thermometers are still used in some industrial applications and laboratories due to their accuracy and ability to measure high temperatures. However, their use is declining due to the potential health and environmental risks associated with mercury exposure. In many situations, digital thermometers or other types of non-mercury thermometers are used instead.

Related questions

Which metal is used in clinical thermometer?

Mercury is used in clinical thermometers.


Are digital and clinical thermometers same?

Digital and clinical thermometers are not necessarily the same. Digital thermometers can encompass a wider range of types, including both clinical and non-clinical variations. Clinical thermometers, on the other hand, are specifically designed for medical use to measure body temperature accurately.


What liquid is inside thermometers?

Most traditional thermometers contain mercury as the liquid inside. However, modern thermometers use alcohol or a similar non-toxic liquid.


What is the difference between clinical thermometers and other mercury-in-glass thermometers?

Clinical thermometers are specifically designed for measuring human body temperature, while other mercury-in-glass thermometers can be used for various purposes such as measuring temperature in laboratories or industrial settings. Clinical thermometers typically have a narrower temperature range focused on human body temperature, while other thermometers may have a wider temperature range. Additionally, clinical thermometers are often designed with features like an easy-to-read scale and a flexible tip for comfort and safety during use.


What chemical element is used in thermometers?

Mercury is commonly used in thermometers due to its unique properties, such as its ability to expand uniformly with temperature changes. However, due to its toxicity, digital thermometers with safer alternatives like alcohol or gallium are now more widely used.


Why is mercury used in clinical thermometer and not laboratory thermometer?

Mercury is used in clinical thermometers because it has a high thermal expansion coefficient, making it sensitive to small temperature changes which is important for accurately measuring body temperature. In laboratory thermometers, other liquids like alcohol or special oils are used because they have lower toxicity levels compared to mercury. Mercury can be hazardous if the thermometer breaks, so safer alternatives are preferred in laboratory settings.


Why mercury used in clinical thermometer?

These days, Mercury is considered too risky to use in thermometers (due to the risk of them breaking and contaminating people). Alternate techniques are used today in clinical thermometer, including electronic thermometers and ones based on liquid crystals that aren't as harmful should they leak out and even contactless infrared thermometers..Mercury was used in clinical thermometers due to:Its high thermal expansion (25 °C) 60.4  µm·m−1·K−1Linearity in thermal expansionSensitivity to rise in temperature


What liquid is found in a clinical thermometer?

The liquid in a clinical thermometer is often mercury. But there are thermometers that use a coloured alcohol.


What liquid mental is used for thermometers?

Mercury is used in thermometers.


Is Mercury used in thermometers?

In normal and some medical thermometers Mercury is used. That is why you may want to consider using electric thermometers which are more commonly used. They use no mercury.


What was Mercury used for?

mercury was used for thermometers and baramoters


What liquid used to be in thermometers?

Most thermometers used to contain Mercury until it was found to be toxic.