The two liquids used in liquid in glass thermometers are mercury and alcohol. But the maximum temperature measured by an alcohol thermometer is 78.5°C; hence this thermometer is suitable for measuring lower temperatures. 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. Digital Thermometer can accurately the temperature decide and measure, digital display, not a pointer or mercury display. Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometers are less durable because alcohol evaporates quickly. 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. Alcohol thermometer and mercury thermometer are two types of thermometers which are composed of a bulb and a marked glass tube. Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers. It cannot record temperature automatically or electronically. They are comparatively cheaper than other temperature measurement devices. It really depends on what you need to determine the … Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometers are used to measure temperatures from -115°C to78.5°C. 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. It is also known as mercury-in-glass thermometer. alcohol - cheaper, less chance of pollution, safer for people to use, less accuracy, harder to read in some cases. 1. The liquid should be dyed before filling the bulb. “Rtuťový teploměr; Mediacal mercury-in-glass thermometer” by Da Sal (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr. There are some advantages of resistance temperature detector (RTD) which are given below. Liquid-in-glass thermometers measure the thermal expansion of a liquid, which is placed in a solid container, on a length scale. It measures the temperature precisely. Alcohol has a low surface tension and does not react quickly to temperature changes, nor is it a good conductor of heat. However, alcohol-based thermometers have limitations. Mercury thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with mercury as the temperature sensor. 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. A thermometer is a device that is used to measure the temperature. alcohol can polymerise. The alcohol­­glass thermometer: As a liquid it utilises ethyl alcohol, toluene and technical pentane. If not, the rise of the meniscus cannot be seen clearly. 4. This loss of fluid cannot be avoided. Disadvantages of Alcohol Thermometer. The infrared thermometer is pointed at the canopy and a readout on the back of the instrument, facing the viewer, immediately displays the temperature. It exerts low vapour pressure. When the bulb is immersed in the sample in which the temperature should be measured, the volume of the alcohol expands. requires frequent calibration to maintain accuracy Alcohol Thermometers: Alcohol thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with alcohol as the temperature sensor. An alcohol thermometer has a few advantages and disadvantages when compared to a Mercury thermometer. Infrared thermometers have three advantages. If the top is cooler than the bottom, the alcohol will distil and condensate on the walls, which can cause an inaccurate reading. An alcohol thermometer is a commonplace item for many households. This can make the thermometer show the results more slowly and less accurately. Mercury Thermometer Vs. Alcohol Thermometer, University of Wyoming: A thermometer comparison, Sea Friends: Measuring temperature how temperatures are measured. But some thermometers also use digital sensors. disadvantages of alcohol thermometer. Alcohol thermometer (compared to a mercury thermometer) lower freezing point (-114 ºC) less durable (alcohol evaporates) larger coefficient of expansion. less hazardous. 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. Alcohol thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with alcohol as the temperature sensor. Rohlin holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in English from Madonna University. The liquid inside the bulb can be pure ethanol, toluene, kerosene or any other suitable component depending on the application. Alcohol Thermometers: Liquid inside the bulb of alcohol thermometer can be pure alcohol, toluene, kerosene, etc. The expansion of alcohol is regular. Alcohol thermometers are safer than mercury thermometers because mercury is a toxic substance that can be absorbed through the skin. 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. It has a high b.p. They provide very good repeatability and their calibration remains unaffected. It does not stick to glass-sides. The mercury thermometer is one example of liquid thermometers. This physical property also makes alcohol prone to vaporisation, making it less reliable to use than mercury in a thermometer. 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. The alcohol thermometer or spirit thermometer is an alternative to the mercury-in-glass thermometer and has similar functions. The mercury filled bulb is connected to a glass tube which has a capillary tube inside it. When the dyed alcohol rises upward the capillary tube, the position of the meniscus can be clearly located. It cannot measure high temperatures than the boiling point of the liquid inside the bulb. The typical shelf life of an alcohol thermometer is significantly shorter than that of a mercury thermometer. Alcohol thermometers, on the other hand, tend to have a lower conductivity while wetting the walls of the device. “Alcohol thermometer.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Nov. 2017, Available here. Due to these downsides of alcohol thermometers, some secondary schools don’t use them for educational purposes. 1. Advantages of Alcohol Thermometer. First of all, it is not poisonous, and as a result, much safer to use than mercury. Thermocouples use the e.m.f. 2. 1. Mercury does not wet the capillary tub wall, Hazardous if the bulb is broken and mercury leaks out. Oxford University Press, 1987. The temperature is expressed from thermometer as a number of a particular unit. The capillary wall gets wet by 5. alcohol can polymerise. 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: Her interest areas for writing and research include Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry. What are Alcohol Thermometers      – Definition, Mode of Action, Advantages, Disadvantages 2. The temperature range is −80 to +330 °C depending on the liquid. Advantages of alcohol consumption: Many of them consume alcohol but few people are critical about its use.But some of them are in dilemma about its use. They can pick up hot spots in electrical systems and bearings and help monitor cooling systems. First, they are easy to use. Alcohol has a low boiling point. Unlike the mercury-in-glass thermometer, the contents of an alcohol thermometer are less toxic and will evaporate quickly. Heat for advanced students By Edwin Edser. It is less toxic than mercury thermometer and hence high on safety factor for human and environment. If an alcohol thermometer breaks, the only hazard it causes is scattered bits of broken glass. They employ alcohol as the filled in liquid in glass tubes. This poor physical property makes a thermometer filled with alcohol less durable in the long run. 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. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometer wall does not get wet by Mercury. 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). “Notions of English Disciple.” Comparison of Alcohol and Mercury Thermometer, Available here. Following are the major advantages associated with the use of liquid-in-glass thermometers: 1. Why is a thermometer, alcohol or mercury, usually shaken before used?" Temperature compensation is not necessary. The temperature measurement range of alcohol thermometers varies from 115°C to 785°C, where former is the freezing temperature point of alcohol and latter is boiling temperature point of alcohol. Alcohol thermometers are replacing mercury thermometers in many applications. “SpiritTherm02” By Chemical Engineer – Own work, Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia 2. Alexis Rohlin is a professional writer for various websites. Macmillan and co, limited, 1920, Explaining Physics: GCSE Edition By Stephen Pople. Mercury Thermometers: Mercury thermometer use mercury, and it does not have to be added with a dye because mercury already has a silvery-color. Range c. -200 Advantages: °C to 80°C, though range tends to be highly dependent on the type of alcohol used. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. 4. Below are some of the advantages and disadvantages associated with thermometric liquids. There are some disadvantages of optical pyrometer which are given below. Home » Science » Chemistry » Analytical Chemistry » Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers. So, we will see them as advantages and also as disadvantages. It is a good conductor of heat. Alcohol has a low surface tension and does not react quickly to temperature changes, nor is it a good conductor of heat. Below −37°C, mercury is a soli. It is less durable because alcohol evaporates quickly. IR thermometers are handy for use in measuring drafts and insulation breakdown. Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers, What is the Difference Between Alcohol and Mercury Thermometers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using alcohol in thermometers. News » The Advantages and Disadvantages of Thermocouple Utilization : Monday, 26 August 2013. The higher temperature junction is usually called the ‘hot junction’ and the lower temperature junction the ‘cold junction’. Alcohol thermometers are used to measure temperatures from -115°C to78.5°C. Alcohol Thermometer Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages. The optical pyrometer is not useful for measuring the temperature of clean burning gases that do not radiate visible energy. The major advantages associated with the use of liquid-in-glass thermometers measure the temperature sensor the junction of two metals... You have to keep the top part of the alcohol thermometers: alcohol thermometer in Water... Liquid, which do not radiate visible energy or red also as.... 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