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Mercury is a liquid at room temperature; this made it a useful substance in thermometers. As the mercury heated up, it expanded; this indicated the temperature of the surroundings. Similarly, the colder it got, the more the mercury 'shrunk' so it indicated the low temperature.

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6mo ago

Mercury was used in thermometers because it has a high coefficient of expansion, meaning it expands and contracts uniformly with changes in temperature. This made it ideal for accurately measuring temperature. Additionally, mercury remains a liquid at room temperature and has a wide range of visibility, making it easy to read on a thermometer scale.

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Q: Why was Mercury used for thermometers?
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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.


Why is mercury not used in thermometers any more?

Mercury is toxic and poses serious health and environmental risks if spilled. As a result, many countries have phased out the use of mercury in consumer products, including thermometers. Safer alternatives, such as digital thermometers, are now widely used instead of mercury-based ones.


What is the purpose of mercury thermometers?

Mercury thermometers are used to measure temperature accurately. The expansion of mercury in the glass tube allows for easy visualization of temperature changes. However, due to the toxic nature of mercury, these thermometers are being phased out in favor of digital thermometers.


What instrument it used to measure temperature?

A thermometer is used to measure temperature. There are various types of thermometers such as digital thermometers, mercury thermometers, infrared thermometers, and thermocouples.


Why Mercury thermometer is used domestically and alcoholic thermometer in lab?

Mercury thermometers are used domestically because they are reliable, have a wide temperature range, and are easy to read. Alcoholic thermometers are used in labs because they are non-toxic and can measure a wide range of temperatures accurately. Additionally, they have a lower risk of shattering compared to mercury thermometers.

Related questions

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.


Where is mercury used?

in thermometers.


Why are digital thermometers used these days?

Digital thermometers have replaced mercury thermometers because mercury is toxic. [Personal commentary: digital thermometers are not accurate and mercury thermometers are so how many people are being harmed by not knowing their temperature versus how many would be harmed by the mercury if accurate thermometers were still used?]


What element is liquid metal used in the thermometers?

Mercury is the element commonly used in liquid-in-glass thermometers.


What are the important uses of Mercury?

mercury is used in thermometers


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.


Before mercury what was used to fill thermometers?

Alcohol, usually ethanol or colored alcohol mixtures, was used as the filling in thermometers before mercury.


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.


An element used in thermometers?

Mercury.