Mercury thermometers have been around for quite some time and still today. In almost every house a mercury thermometer was available. Over time they have been discontinued since it has been discovered that it can be very dangerous if it breaks. There are many people who do not know well how a mercury thermometer works. This is one of the reasons why it has also been banned since it does not compensate because of its dangerousness and its risk when using it.
Therefore, in this article we are going to teach you how a mercury thermometer works and their characteristics.
Main features of mercury thermometers
It is a temperature measurement instrument that consists of a bulb from which a thinner tube made of glass extends. Inside the bulb is the metal mercury. This particular metal has been chosen since its volume changes depending on the temperature. He The instrument has numbers that mark the temperature values. Depending on these values, the volume will rise or fall. This metal was used to be able to have a greater facility when changing its volume and better express the data.
Given its ease and effectiveness when it comes to measuring temperatures, it became a very widespread tool throughout the world. He price of a mercury thermometer It was quite accessible to the entire population. The science of temperature, known as thermology, was able to advance tremendously thanks to the mercury thermometer. For more information, you can read how the environment affects temperature in street thermometers. The temperature range it can accommodate is quite large. Also, if you're interested in knowing What is the maximum temperature that humans can withstand?, the mercury thermometer provides an excellent reference.
How a mercury thermometer works
Once we know what this type of tool is let's see how it works step by stepMercury thermometers have numbers that indicate temperature values. These numbers are measured by a very thin line drawn in the center. This line is responsible for indicating the temperature being measured. If we want to use it to know body temperature, the most normal thing is to place the bulb under the tongue, in the rectum or in the armpit. In this way, we can check for fever by measuring body temperature.
Let's see step by step how a mercury thermometer works:
- Cleaning the bulb: First of all, clean the bulb on the metal part of the thermometer with a cotton pad that is soaked in antiseptic alcohol. In this way, we can disinfect the part that will mostly come into contact with our body.
- We energetically activate mercury thermometer: To do this, we must use it on the opposite side to the bulb. Thanks to this movement we can make any mercury residue that has remained go down and guarantee that the indicated temperature is correct.
- We place the thermometer in the armpitThe bulb should be placed right in the center of the armpit to accurately measure the temperature. Next, we rest our arm in our lap without moving it while we allow the temperature to rise and check for fever.
- We wait about five minutes: roughly the time it takes for the mercury to rise and indicate body temperature. It is important to time the time we are with the thermometer well, since this way we will avoid removing it prematurely.
- Shake it again: To lower the mercury level again, we must shake the thermometer again. Finally, it's best to store it tightly in its case to prevent breakage. We know that mercury metal is toxic, and glass is quite fragile. It's also a good idea to disinfect it again with alcohol before storing it.
How to read a mercury thermometer
Not only do you need to know how a mercury thermometer works, but you also need to know how to interpret its readings. To do this, you need to learn how to read it correctly. After waiting five minutes for the temperature to rise, remove the thermometer and look at the line in the center. This line helps us determine body temperature. Depending on the reading, we know whether we have a fever or not.
It is important to move the thermometer gently because if the mercury line is not clearly visible, it must be moved. If the line exceeds 37 degrees we know we have a fever. If it only passes a few tenths there is no need to worry. If the temperature is close to 40 degrees, it is best to re-measure the temperature or go to the doctor immediately.
How Mercury Thermometer Work: What To Do If It Breaks
One of the fundamental aspects is knowing what to do when a mercury thermometer breaks. If due to any accident it slips out of our hand and falls to the ground, breaking the glass, we must have a protocol for action. The ideal is ventilate the entire environment as much as possible to avoid breathing toxic fumes. This metal is toxic if breathed in and can cause brain damage, skin problems, stomach problems, etc.
Before going on to collect the little mercury balls that form when the thermometer breaks, we must put on masks and gloves to protect ourselves not to breathe the vapors. Also, any contact with the skin can lead to worse problems. Therefore, the ideal is to collect and check well that all the mercury pearls have been collected.
It is not at all advisable to flush the remaining mercury down the toilet, as it can contaminate more than 1000 liters of water unnecessarily. If you want to know more about temperature, it is important to take into account the dangers of mercury.
Alternatives to these thermometers
There are some more interesting alternatives to the mercury thermometer, since it is not commercially available today. Let's see what the main varieties are:
- Digital thermometer: It is one that is used with the same guidelines as a mercury thermometer.
- Infrared thermometer: It takes a temperature reading using the rays emitted by the skin. They are harmless to health.
- Baby thermometers: They are pacifier-type thermometers that we can use to know if our children have a fever.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about how a mercury thermometer works.