LIQUID IN GLASS

THERMOMETER

LIQUID IN GLASS
THERMOMETER
a thermometer in which the
thermally sensitive element is
a liquid contained in a
graduated glass envelope.
Most common and well known
thermometer

LIQUID IN GLASS THERMOMETER

The liquid in glass thermometer are

commonly manufactured in two types

Partial Immersion
Total Immersion

Partial Immersion

Total Immersion

Expansion Chamber
Capillary Tube
Scale

Stem
Column of Mercury

Constriction
Mercury Bulb

Expansion Chamber
space that is taken up by the gas
in the capillary bore; it is pushed
back as the mercury rises into it.

Parts

Capillary Tube
space that is taken up by the gas
in the capillary bore; it is pushed
back as the mercury rises into it.

Parts

Scale
divisions of equal length (degrees)
marked on the thermometer that
constitute the units of measurement.

Parts

Column of mercury
quantity of mercury that is contained in the
capillary bore; its height varies with the
temperature.

Parts

Constriction

narrowing that prevents the mercury from

spontaneously dropping into the bulb as
the temperature lowers (the thermometer
must be shaken to make it go down).

Parts

Mercury Bulb

glass reservoir containing

mercury (a liquid metal) that
expands and rises in the capillary
tube as the temperature rises.

Parts

Stem
Glass tube containing the capillary
bore.

Parts

Most common type of

Liquid in glass
thermometer
Mercury
Alcohol

Mercury in thermometer
It has a boiling point of 674F
(356.7C) and a melting point of
-38F (-38.89C). Mercury is stable
(it does not react) in air and water,
does not expand upon solidification
and therefore will not break the
glass tube of the thermometer.

Alcohol in glass
thermometer
spirit thermometer is an
alternative to the mercury in
glass thermometer and functions
in a similar way. But unlike
mercury-in-glass thermometer,
the contents of an alcohol
thermometer are less toxic and
will evaporate away fairly
quickly.

Mercury Vs Alcohol
Advantages

Disadvantages

Mercury

Mercury thermometers they present many safety and

environmental hazards
are inexpensive,
durable and accurate.

Alcohol

also inexpensive and

durable.

not as accurate as mercury

thermometers because of the
alcohols susceptibility to
evaporation,

Useable Temperature Range

Working Liquid

Temperature range

Mercury

-38 to 650

Alcohol

-110 to 100

Toluene

-90 to 100

The Liquid Glass

Thermometer
Advantages

Disadvantages

No power source
required

Limited to applications

Repeatable

Have a limited useable temperature

range

Easy to use and cheap

Cannot be digitized or automated