Alcohol thermometers use the expansion and contraction of alcohol to measure temperature, with different alcohols used depending on the environment. They are non-toxic and enclosed in a casing for protection. The first prototype dates back to the 1600s and they are used by laboratories and scientific organizations. It is important to avoid handling the bulb to get an accurate reading.
An alcohol thermometer is a thermometer that uses the expansion and contraction of alcohol in response to changes in temperature to measure temperature. Different alcohols can be used, depending on the environment in which the thermometer is used, with ethanol being the most common. This type of thermometer is very popular because it is non-toxic, unlike a glass mercury thermometer, and the contents will not pose a threat to human health or the environment if the thermometer is broken.
Because alcohols are clear, a colorant is usually added to the alcohol used in the thermometer. Red is a common choice for dye, although other colors may also be used, and the back of the thermometer is usually colored to provide contrast so that the meniscus of the fluid is clearly visible, allowing for accurate temperature readings. The thermometer can also be housed in a casing which protects it from shocks and sudden changes in temperature and to make it easier to handle.
Alcohol thermometers work by enclosing a narrow capillary attached to a stock fluid bulb. As the temperature warms, the alcohol expands, moving up the capillary. As the temperature drops, the fluid contracts, flowing down the capillary. Markers along the capillary indicate temperature, with people reading the temperature finding the marker that corresponds to the meniscus of the fluid inside the capillary. This can be difficult to do with a tight capillary, as the fine wisp of alcohol can appear nearly invisible even with dye.
The first prototype alcohol thermometer appears to date back to the 1600s. It is one of several devices that can be used to measure temperature, and alcohol thermometers are used by numerous laboratories and scientific organizations for temperature readings. Different types of alcohol are used for different conditions; an ethyl alcohol thermometer, for example, may not perform very well at temperatures too much above the boiling point of ethanol.
As with a glass mercury thermometer, it is easy to distort the reading of an alcohol thermometer by heating or cooling the bulb which contains the reserve fluid. For this reason, it is important to avoid handling the bulb when working with this type of thermometer and to avoid exposing the bulb to extreme temperatures when trying to get an accurate reading. For example, an alcohol thermometer used to measure internal temperature should not be placed in a sunny spot in the house or in an area near a stove or stove.
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