A thermometer is a device that is used to measure the temperature. The bulb is connected to a sealed capillary tube which is filled with a mixture of nitrogen gas and the vapor of the alcohol. It can measure low temperatures. Kirkham, in Principles of Soil and Plant Water Relations, 2005. Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometer wall get wet by alcohol. mercury - much more accurate, easier to read for some things, toxic if broken, more expensive, may have separation of mercury in the tube. The liquid should be dyed before filling the bulb. The maximum temperature that can be measured depends on the boiling point of the liquid inside the bulb. Madhusha is a BSc (Hons) graduate in the field of Biological Sciences and is currently pursuing for her Masters in Industrial and Environmental Chemistry. When the bulb is immersed in the sample in which the temperature should be measured, the mercury rises up the capillary tube due to the expansion of the volume as a response to the change in temperature. Alcohol Thermometer Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages. Below −37°C, mercury is a soli. It has a high b.p. She has produced works for Red Anvil Publishing and was one of the top 10 finalists in the 2007 Midnight Hour Short Story Contest for OnceWritten.com. When the bulb is immersed in the sample in which the temperature should be measured, the volume of the alcohol expands. 1. It works on exactly the same principle as the mercury-based device but has a few advantages. Therefore, this thermometer is not suitable for such low temperatures. The infrared thermometer is pointed at the canopy and a readout on the back of the instrument, facing the viewer, immediately displays the temperature. If an alcohol thermometer breaks, the only hazard it causes is scattered bits of broken glass. Mercury Thermometer Vs. Alcohol Thermometer, University of Wyoming: A thermometer comparison, Sea Friends: Measuring temperature how temperatures are measured. The ethanol version is the most widely used due to the low cost and relatively low hazard posed by the liquid in case of breakage. disadvantages of alcohol thermometer. “SpiritTherm02” By Chemical Engineer – Own work, Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 2. Alcohol has a low boiling point. The word thermometer comes from the word thermos meaning warm and meter meaning measuring device. The higher temperature junction is usually called the ‘hot junction’ and the lower temperature junction the ‘cold junction’. So, we will see them as advantages and also as disadvantages. Alcohol thermometer and mercury thermometer are two types of thermometers that are composed of a bulb filled with a liquid and a capillary tube connected to the bulb. Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometer uses alcohols colored with a dye. The alcohol-in-glass thermometer is a cheaper and less dangerous alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometers. It is less toxic than mercury thermometer and hence high on safety factor for human and environment. Temperature compensation is not necessary. Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometers are less durable because alcohol evaporates quickly. DISADVANTAGES: 1. 2. Macmillan and co, limited, 1920, Explaining Physics: GCSE Edition By Stephen Pople. Some believe that non-mercury thermometers should not be used in secondary schools bec… Difference Between Normal Phase and Reverse Phase... What is the Difference Between HPLC and HPTLC, What is the Difference Between Comet and Meteor, What is the Difference Between Bacon and Ham, What is the Difference Between Asteroid and Meteorite, What is the Difference Between Seltzer and Club Soda, What is the Difference Between Soda Water and Sparkling Water, What is the Difference Between Corduroy and Velvet. M.B. Since alcohols are colorless, they are dyed before filling the bulb. This capillary tube is made of the same glass used to make the bulb, and it is inside a glass tube which has the temperature scale marked on. It really depends on what you need to determine the … “Mercury-in-Glass thermometer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 Dec. 2017, Available here. Range c. -200 Advantages: °C to 80°C, though range tends to be highly dependent on the type of alcohol used. In temperature measurement, the thermocouple term is commonly found. Alcohol thermometers are replacing mercury thermometers in many applications. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometer use mercury, and it does not have to be added with a dye because mercury already has a silvery-color. Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers. 5. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with thermometric liquids.Advantages of mercury as a thermometric liquid.-It is a good conductor of heat and therefore the whole liquid reaches the temperature of the surroundings quickly.-It does not wet (cling to the sides of) the tube.-It has a high … The liquids are used as a thermometer filler, because the liquids undergo the change in … Alcohol thermometers are safer than mercury thermometers because mercury is a toxic substance that can be absorbed through the skin. This can make the thermometer show the results more slowly and less accurately. Disadvantages: Alcohol is … Sometimes, it is a digital readout. fluid loss by evaporation hard to avoid . The major disadvantage of alcohol thermometers is the limited use at very high temperatures as in cooking, because of the low boiling point of the thermometer’s liquid contents. requires frequent calibration to maintain accuracy less hazardous. Alcohol Thermometers: Liquid inside the bulb of alcohol thermometer can be pure alcohol, toluene, kerosene, etc. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometer is suitable for measurement of high temperatures. Here are some of the different types of thermometers in use today and their advantages: Mercury/alcohol thermometer: The traditional thermometer makes use of mercury or colored alcohol hermetically sealed inside a glass tube. The deflection on the galvanometer G depends on the difference in temperature between junctions X and Y and is caused by the difference between voltages Vx and Vy. They both have advantages and disadvantages: A mercury-in-glass thermometer can measure high temperature (up to 357 0C, the boiling point of mercury; and its freezing point is -39 0C). ADVANTAGES: 1. Alcohol thermometers are used in the place of mercury thermometers considering the safety of the chemical compound. lower boiling point (60 ºC) Bimetallic thermometer * cheap. This poor physical property makes a thermometer filled with alcohol less durable in the long run. Alcohol has a low surface tension and does not react quickly to temperature changes, nor is it a good conductor of heat. 2. It is less toxic and less hazardous. They are handy and convenient to use. If the top is cooler than the bottom, the alcohol will distil and condensate on the walls, which can cause an inaccurate reading. 3. It gives more accurate readings. They are comparatively cheaper than other temperature measurement devices. Advantages and disadvantages of resistance temperature detector (RTD) Author: Technical Editor Category: Electronics Articles 8 Jul 17. When the volume of alcohol expands, the liquid enters the capillary tube and rises. thermometer image by Dron from Fotolia.com. 1. It is less durable because alcohol evaporates quickly. It is a good conductor of heat. There are some disadvantages of optical pyrometer which are given below. The temperature range is −80 to +330 °C depending on the liquid. Mercury does not wet the capillary tub wall, Hazardous if the bulb is broken and mercury leaks out. “Mercury-thermometer” By Jurii – (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia 3. But some thermometers also use digital sensors. Because of sensitivity of temperature, high thermal conductivity, low thermal capacity, good visibility and non-wetting of the internal capillary walls of the thermometer, mercury is typically a very accurate gauge of temperature. 3. Disadvantages of Alcohol Thermometer. Therefore, it cannot be used in places with high temperatures. 4. Home » Science » Chemistry » Analytical Chemistry » Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers. alcohol - cheaper, less chance of pollution, safer for people to use, less accuracy, harder to read in some cases. Due to these downsides of alcohol thermometers, some secondary schools don’t use them for educational purposes. 1. Advantages: It can measure very low temperatures. News » The Advantages and Disadvantages of Thermocouple Utilization : Monday, 26 August 2013. Why is a thermometer, alcohol or mercury, usually shaken before used?" When the dyed alcohol rises upward the capillary tube, the position of the meniscus can be clearly located. 8. They provide very good repeatability and their calibration remains unaffected. Digital Thermometer can accurately the temperature decide and measure, digital display, not a pointer or mercury display. It is opaque n shining. Answer (1 of 1): It is cheap, portable and convenient. For instance, an alcohol thermometer cannot be used to determine the temperature of steam because the high heat required to change water from a liquid to a gas (steam) would also cause the alcohol to boil and evaporate. The accuracy may be affected by dust, smoke and thermal background radiation. First of all, it is not poisonous, and as a result, much safer to use than mercury. Alcohol thermometer (compared to a mercury thermometer) lower freezing point (-114 ºC) less durable (alcohol evaporates) larger coefficient of expansion. Thermometer is commonly made of a glass tube which is filled with liquids. Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol is less toxic. The most commonly used colors as dye are blue or red. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury is highly toxic. The space of the capillary tube (above mercury) is filled with nitrogen gas. Oxford University Press, 1987. The temperature range that can be measured by a typical mercury thermometer is −37 to 356 °C. This physical property also makes alcohol prone to vaporisation, making it less reliable to use than mercury in a thermometer. The main difference between alcohol and mercury thermometer is that the bulb of mercury thermometer is filled with mercury whereas the bulb of alcohol thermometer is filled with an alcohol. But if the capillary tube is filled with nitrogen gas, then the temperature range can be further increased since nitrogen is an inert gas and the pressure exerted by the gas on the mercury can increase the boiling point of mercury. Alcohol thermometers, on the other hand, tend to have a lower conductivity while wetting the walls of the device. The position of the meniscus of the liquid is read using the temperature scale marked on the glass tube. It has a greater value of temperature coefficient of expansion than a mercury thermometer. Thermocouples use the e.m.f. of 357 degree C. 7. 2. Alcohol thermometers are used to measure temperatures from -115°C to78.5°C. It cannot record temperature automatically or electronically. 4. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. They can pick up hot spots in electrical systems and bearings and help monitor cooling systems. The typical shelf life of an alcohol thermometer is significantly shorter than that of a mercury thermometer. Her interest areas for writing and research include Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry. Thermister-based or “metal thermometers” are recommended in these applications, which do not utilize any liquid for temperature measurement. Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with alcohol as the temperature sensor. Infrared thermometers have three advantages. Mercury thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with mercury as the temperature sensor. Answer (1 of 4): The two liquids used in liquid in glass thermometers are mercury and alcohol. Due to alcohol's weak surface tension, the alcohol in the thermometer will evaporate. When these thermometers are placed in warm solutions, they can measure the temperature of that solution using the expansion of the liquid inside the bulb through the capillary tube. The temperature is expressed from thermometer as a number of a particular unit. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometer wall does not get wet by Mercury. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometers are used to measure temperatures from −37 to 356 °C. On the surface of the glass tube, temperature scale is marked in order to get the value for a particular temperature. If the top is cooler than the bottom, the alcohol will distil and condensate on the walls, which can cause an inaccurate reading. The alcohol thermometer or spirit thermometer is an alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometer and has similar functions. less hazardous. They employ alcohol as the filled in liquid in glass tubes. What is the Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers      – Comparison of Key Differences, Key Terms: Alcohol, Alcohol Thermometer, Mercury, Mercury Thermometer, Sensor, Temperature, Thermometer. The optical pyrometer is not useful for measuring the temperature of clean burning gases that do not radiate visible energy. It exerts low vapour pressure. Liquid-in-glass thermometers measure the thermal expansion of a liquid, which is placed in a solid container, on a length scale. Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Types of Thermometers Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — Written by Corey Whelan on December 15, 2020 Types “Notions of English Disciple.” Comparison of Alcohol and Mercury Thermometer, Available here. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using alcohol in thermometers. Alcohol has a low surface tension and does not react quickly to temperature changes, nor is it a good conductor of heat. A mercury-in-glass thermometer has a range of -39oC to 360oC while an alcohol-in-glass thermometer has a range of -112o C to 78o C. Noah Borel Here are some advantages and disadvantages of mercury-in-glass thermometers: A thermometer is composed of two components: a sensor to detect temperature, and a visible scale to get the numerical value for the temperature measured. alcohol can polymerise. The disadvantages includes, it is fragile and the fluid contained inside the tube may be toxic. set up when the junction of two dissimilar metals is heated. People who prefer it believe that advantages of alcohol … Some thermometers use a bulb filled with a chemical such as mercury as the temperature sensor. alcohol can polymerise. They can be frequently applied in areas where there is problem of electricity. 6. If the cold junction is kept at a constant known temperature, the galva… There are some advantages of resistance temperature detector (RTD) which are given below. Alcohol thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with alcohol as the temperature sensor. A mercury-in-glass thermometer has a range of -39oC to 360oC while an alcohol-in-glass thermometer has a range of -112o C to 78o C. Noah Borel Here are some advantages and disadvantages of mercury-in-glass thermometers: The capillary wall gets wet by The boiling point of mercury is 356.7 °C, hence the maximum temperature that can be read from a mercury thermometer is 356 °C. It measures the temperature precisely. It is also known as mercury-in-glass thermometer. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with thermometric liquids. 3. If not, the rise of the meniscus cannot be seen clearly. “Rtuťový teploměr; Mediacal mercury-in-glass thermometer” by Da Sal (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr. Advantages of mercury as a thermometric liquid.-It is a good conductor of heat and therefore the whole liquid reaches the temperature of the surroundings quickly. Alcohol is also used with this type of instrument. Alexis Rohlin is a professional writer for various websites. However, alcohol-based thermometers have limitations. Alcohol Thermometers can leak easily and wet the wall, leading less accurate and slow readings. “Alcohol thermometer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Nov. 2017, Available here. First, they are easy to use. The mercury thermometer is one example of liquid thermometers. Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers, What is the Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers. Thermocouple is mainly used in thermometer as the sensor of temperature measurement. 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