Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses how hot or cold something is.

Temperature
measuring devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common:
they all measure temperature by detecting a change in a physical characteristic.

Mercury thermometer is a device used to measure temperature or the gradient of temperature. It

has mercury temperature sensor and is vacuum-sealed in a glass tube. When air is heated or cooled,
the mercury expands or contracts. A corresponding temperature scale can be read to indicate the
current temperature as the mercury level changes. The benefits of a thermometer include its ability
to measure even high temperatures because it is a good conductor of heat. The disadvantages are
that they are easily broken, and if the glass tube breaks, there is a risk of mercury poisoning. It is
inexpensive and it aslo cover a wide temperature range from −37 to 356 °C (−35 to 673 °F).

Mercury thermometers are ideal for taking patients' temperatures in hospitals because they are
inexpensive, safe for patients, and provide quick and accurate readings.