The mercury-in-glass or mercury thermometer was invented by physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit in Amsterdam (1714). With changes in temperature, the mercury expands and contracts, and the temperature can be read from the scale. This type can be used either orally, which is to say slipped under the tongue, or rectally. I really loved the idea of plastic strip thermometers because with mercury thermometers I was always worried about my children dropping the glass vial and breaking it. The small silvery ball in a mercury thermometer can be dangerous if the glass breaks and the mercury is not cleaned up properly. I have found that the digital thermometers that you press against your forehead are absolutely terrible. Mercury thermometer is a type of thermometer that uses a bulb filled with mercury as the temperature sensor. Newer technologies include non-mercury liquids-in-glass as well as digital and electronic devices that use sensors to measure temperature. The ear thermometer is cleaner and less invasive than an oral thermometer, which is what it has going for it, but if I can’t be sure that the temperature is accurate it’s not much use. Learn more about how to tell if there is mercury in your fever thermometer. The silver tip and line is mercury. Maybe I’m not using it properly, I don’t know. When the tool is placed outdoors or in the body, the metal tip heats and mercury stretches along the length of hollow space within the tube. Standard mercury freezes at -37.89°F (-38.83°C). For daily use, despite prices, a digital thermometer is the best choice. I am not sure if it was just the brand that was being used on us at work, but it never got a reading correct without multiple tries, and even that final reading was questionable. There are a number of different model types, sizes, and specifications, but the general operating principle is about the same in all cases. Old thermometers must be properly disposed of to prevent environmental contamination. The digital thermometer is not only faster on … Most modern models work this way, and though advancements have been made in terms of presentation the basics are usually about the same. If the liquid in your thermometer bulb is silver, then the liquid might be: a non-toxic compound that looks similar to mercury. Like everything else electronic I remember digital thermometers used to be a little bit more expensive than they are currently! However, they present many safety and environmental hazards. The battery is a button-cell battery and may contain a small amount of mercury, so it should be recycled with a hazardous waste collection program. If you have a mercury thermometer in your home and you want to get rid of it, you need to safely dispose of it as hazardous waste. The most similar alternatives to mercury fever thermometers are battery- and solar-powered digital thermometers. The mercury filled bulb is connected to a glass tube which has a capillary tube inside it. Mercury thermometers can be used to determine body, liquid, and vapor temperature. It consists of a bulb containing mercury attached to a glass tube of narrow diameter; the volume of mercury in the tube is much less than the volume in the bulb. Mercury is a toxic and hazardous chemical. Medical doctors often use a version known as the maximum mercury thermometer to measure human body temperature. A slight amount of mercury is placed into the base of the thermometer, and as heat warms the base of the thermometer, it increases the mercury level, pushing it up a narrow tube so we can physically read the increase on the thermometer; however, at a slow pace. This thermometer can measure temperatures in the ranges of -30 to +300 ° C . A laboratory thermometer is recognizable by its long stem with a silver bulb at the end. If mercury freezes, nitrogen can be caught behind the metal causing the thermometer to stop working. The United States has not banned mercury in medical settings, though many advocacy groups have recommended a number of safety precautions. Nitrogen gas is what usually holds the mercury in place, and usually has to be inserted during the manufacturing process. The German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit is credited with inventing the first mercury thermometer in 1714, which he made with a glass tube attached to a small well of mercury. Some thermometers may still contain mercury but many typically contain less toxic liquids. Due to these facts, it is also obviously a substance that is difficult to clean up if ti spills. Contact your local trash collection program to see if there's a … The Health Care Without Harm website presents information on specific state laws, resolutions and declarations.Exit. However, in a gaseous state, as organomercuric compounds or as inorganic salts, it becomes a deadly toxin. The thermometer usually has a small reserve of liquid mercury in its base, which is most often pressurized; above it is usually a glass or synthetic tube with a calibrated temperature scale. A variety of accurate and reliable mercury-free fever thermometers are available at your local pharmacy. What to do if a mercury thermometer breaks. Mercury thermometers may be used in many applications, including chemical experiments, water and acid baths, blood banks, ovens and incubators. You can use Earth911's Recycling Locator Exit to find a mercury recycling center near you. Mercury thermometers can be used to determine body, liquid, and vapor temperature. Mercury, which is also sometimes known as quicksilver, is a silvery liquid that responds very well to atmospheric changes, particularly temperature and barometric pressure. When heat rises, the liquid expand s from a bowl or bulb into the empty area, climbing up the tube. Thermometers use a variety of technologies to measure body temperature. To date, multiple ASTM standards have been updated to approve the use of mercury-free alternatives for temperature measurement. At least 13 states -- California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Washington -- have passed such laws. They are painless to use and disposable so you don’t have to worry about cleaning anything. Glass Oral Temperature for Fever Test, Oral Temperature for Adult or Baby, Rectal Axillar Temperatur… It’s dangerous if a mercury thermometer shatters on the ground since mercury is toxic. The oldest technology is the mercury-in-glass thermometer. They are common in many households, schools and medical facilities. Better accuracy for temperature measurement results. I know that the ear thermometer has become the instrument of choice as physicians got away from the more invasive rectal thermometer, but I wonder if the they are as effective as they claim to be. For broader coverage of this topic, see Temperature measurement. Mercury thermometers are inexpensive, durable and accurate. In place of mercury thermometers, hospitals will use the ear thermometer to take body temperature. Just the same, due to the dangers associated with mercury poisoning, many countries around the world, most notably in Europe, have banned mercury-based thermometers for medical use. I think as long as you are careful there is no need to drop $50 or more on a digital thermometer. The mercury will evaporate and can contaminate the surrounding air and become toxic to humans and wildlife. Broad categories of reasonably priced thermometers. There are non-mercury thermometers with temperature and accuracy ranges equal to most mercury thermometers. With the strips you stick on you no longer have to worry about any of that. I remember they did always remind us to be careful and not to drop them. Common household uses of mercury thermometers include fever thermometers and oven, candy and meat thermometers. Metallic mercury in its liquid state is relatively harmless when confined. EPA has launched an effort to reduce the use of mercury-filled non-fever thermometers used in industrial settings where suitable alternatives exist. That mercury was secured in a metal tip. There are four broad categories of thermometers to be aware of: You can read more about the impact the decision will have in NIST’s February 2011 press release announcing the change. If you break a thermometer while using it or if you improperly dispose of it, the thermometer will release mercury vapors that are harmful to human and ecological health. Although many people commonly associate thermometers with a mercury filling, the dangerous properties of mercury have spurred manufacturers to use other liquids inside the glass gauges. But, in fact, a crashed thermometer with correct and well-adjusted actions is nothing more than an unpleasant situation that can be resolved on its own. Some states and municipalities have passed laws or ordinances barring the manufacture, sale and/or distribution of mercury fever thermometers. First of all, if the thermometer broke, we recall its physical properties and … Mercury thermometers are used in households, laboratory experiments, and industrial applications. I have always preferred mercury thermometers because of how easy they are to use. @SZapper - I remember when the digital thermometers for at home use came out too. Accuracy 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. Mercury thermometer (mercury-in-glass thermometer) for measurement of room temperature. In some instances they’re also used in kitchens, usually as a way of monitoring warm liquids, but most modern chefs prefer more food-specific gauges. The mercury thermometer is a classic design for temperature measurement still used by many families. The American Academy of Pediatricians and the United States Environmental Protection Agency, for instance, have each suggested alternative temperature-measuring devices for personal use in order to reduce the risk of accidental exposure. These sorts of thermometers are most commonly used in medicine and meteorology. I remember when I was very little we used a mercury thermometer and my mom always warned us to be very careful with them. I think you can get them for under $50. United States Environmental Protection Agency. If there is no liquid in your thermometer, for example, if it uses a metallic strip or coil to measure temperature (like most meat thermometers do), it is not a mercury thermometer. Fold the paper towel and place in a zip locking bag. The accuracy of a mercury thermometer varies depending on many thing. A maximum thermometer is a medical mercury-in-glass thermometer that features a carefully designed restriction in the mercury column directly ahead of the reservoir bulb. Each thermometer contains about.5-1.5 grams of mercury. This has led some people to question the wisdom of having mercury so readily accessible in homes. The bulb is the basis of mercury thermometers. In a thermometer, the color helps determine the type of liquid. If there are any broken pieces of glass or sharp objects, pick them up with care. This thermometer is a thin glass tube with a silver tip and line inside. There are usually a number of different options and models available depending on the intended use. A thermometer is a device that measures temperature or a temperature gradient (the degree of hotness or coldness of an object). If you are choosing a battery-powered digital thermometer, choose one that contains a replaceable battery. The basic instrumentality is usually pretty simple. The space above the mercury may be filled with nitrogengas or it may b… For more information about phasing out industrial mercury thermometers, visit EPA's Phasing Out of Mercury Thermometers Used in Industrial and Laboratory Settings page. Out of all the liquid-filled Thermometers, the mercury-filled ones are the most accurate. Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Mercury is one of the most familiar materials used in liquid thermometers. If the liquid in the thermometer bulb is any color other than silver, it is not a mercury thermometer. The alternative to the mercury thermometer is the digital thermometer, which measures temperature by monitoring changes in electrical properties voltage and resistance of metals inside the device. These are similar to mercury thermometers in both price and use. Wikibuy Review: A Free Tool That Saves You Time and Money, 15 Creative Ways to Save Money That Actually Work. There are a number of different model types, sizes, and specifications, but the general operating principle is about the same in all cases. In the past, mercury (MER-kure-e) thermometers were used. In a mercury thermometer, a glass tube is filled with mercury and a standard temperature scale is marked on the tube. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that the use of mercury thermometers be avoided and that existing mercury thermometers be properly retired. This allows temperature readings to be kept until mercury is forced back into the tip by centrifugal force, or shaking the thermometer with the head pointed toward the floor. He then developed a system of calibration to create a scale for easy reading. The mercury in mercury thermometers is poisonous if the thermometer breaks. Higher temperatures cause mercury to grow longer, while low temperatures cause it to fall or shrink back down. Although currently there are digital thermometers this form of temperature measurement is still very much in demand, in addition to being very simple to use. The volume of mercury changes slightly with temperature; the small change in volume drives the narrow mercury column a relatively long way up the tube. The purpose of the restriction is to to keep any given reading visible on the thermometer … Thallium reduces the freezing point to -78°F (-61.1°C). It’s enclosed in an airtight capillary. Noun 1. mercury thermometer - thermometer consisting of mercury contained in a bulb at the bottom of a graduated sealed glass capillary tube marked in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit; mercury expands with a rise in temperature causing a thin thread of mercury to rise in the tube Most thermometers hold between 0.02 ounces (0.5 g) and 0.1 ounces (3 g) of mercury. Collectible mercury thermometers on eBay come in many shapes, sizes, and transduction methods. Secure the bag and label it as directed by your local health or fire department. The silver color in the bulb normally indicates the presence of mercury. Mercury thermometers are designed utilizing the idea that mercury expands with heat. Everyone knows that mercury is one of the most powerful poisons, thus, have toxicity even mercury vapor. Mercury thermometers can withstand boiling and freezing temperatures, while digital thermometers may break in extreme conditions. A mercury thermometer is a tool used to measure temperature. Then when I got a little bit older digital thermometers came out and we replaced our mercury thermometer. Place all broken objects on a paper towel. Mercury fever thermometers are made of glass the size of a straw, with a silvery-white liquid inside. I know the hospitals use some digital ear thermometers that are supposed to be rated very high for accuracy, and as a consumer you can buy these models yourself. Most modern thermometers are made of much stronger glass then their original counterparts, and the amount of mercury contained in each is quite low in any event. In a mercury thermometer, a glass tube is filled with mercury and a standard temperature scale is marked on the tube. I'm pretty sure I remember when they started phasing out mercury thermometers for at home use. These can all be used orally, rectally, or in the armpit. Other liquids, such as kerosene or ethanol , may also be used in these types of thermometers. There are two general types of mercury thermometers that measure body temperature: Alternatives to mercury fever thermometers, Cleanup and disposal after breaking a thermometer, Learn more about how to tell if there is mercury in your fever thermometer, NIST’s February 2011 press release announcing the change, final rule incorporating updated ASTM International (ASTM) standards into EPA regulations (PDF), View a list of the updated ASTM standards, Phasing Out of Mercury Thermometers Used in Industrial and Laboratory Settings page, specific state laws, resolutions and declarations, What to do when a mercury fever thermometer breaks/spills, How to recycle and dispose of mercury products, Oral/rectal/baby thermometers, containing about 0.61 grams of mercury, Basal temperature thermometers (used to track slight changes in body temperature), containing about 2.25 grams of mercury. Presence of mercury States and municipalities have passed laws or ordinances barring the manufacture, and/or. 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