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What are the effects of mercury ingestion from old thermometers?
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Typically, one-time direct injestion of the tiny amount of Mercury contained in an old thermometer is asymptomatic. Mercury however, like many other metals, does not easily leave the system, and so the dosage is cumulative. Chronic exposure is what you need to avoid.
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
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Why is Mercury used in old thermometers?
Mercury was used in old thermometers because mercury expands when it reaches a certain temperature, so it was a really good "gauge". Now, they stopped making thermometers with mercury as the liquid since it was very poisonous. i hope you liked the answer!
What fluids can be used to measure temperature?
The most common are mercury and alcohol. Mercury is being phased out because it is toxic. Alcohol thermometers are used to replace the old mercury thermometers.
Why clinical thermometer is jerked before using it again?
If you have an old thermometer that has mercury, then the shaking makes all of the mercury flow to the bottom of the thermometer. Then, you can get a better reading. The current digital ones work differently. Thermometers used for taking people temperatures are a special kind that go up with heat but don't go down with cold. So you have to shake a thermometer before taking your temperature to make the reading go down below your own temperature. Then the thermometer can go up again to read your temperature.
Does Mercury contain liquid metal?
So NO. Mercury does NOT have water on it. The conditions on Mercury sure rule it out. As Mercury slowly rotates, the side facing the Sun experiences extremely high temperatures. At noon on the equator, the temperature rises to 700 Kelvin. And then dips down to just 100 Kelvin at night, since there's no atmosphere to hold in the temperature. Any water on the surface of Mercury would boil away quickly and escape into space because of Mercury's low gravity, and the constantly blowing solar wind.
The function of a Mercury thermometer?
to tell old people that have a mercury thermometer what the temperature is
Why is Mercury used in old thermometers?
Mercury was used in old thermometers because mercury expands when it reaches a certain temperature, so it was a really good "gauge". Now, they stopped making thermometers with mercury as the liquid since it was very poisonous. i hope you liked the answer!
What fluids can be used to measure temperature?
The most common are mercury and alcohol. Mercury is being phased out because it is toxic. Alcohol thermometers are used to replace the old mercury thermometers.
Where is mercury found around the home?
Old fashioned thermometers and in tuna.
What liquid metal that used to be used in thermometers?
Mercury. Note: mercury is very toxic. If you find mercury (for example, if you break an old mercury thermometer), check with your local poison control center for instructions to dispose of it safely.
What element is a liquid metal used in a thermometer?
Mercury is a liquid metal that is used in thermometers.
What element liquid metal that used to be used in thermometers?
Mercury
What is best known to be used in thermometers?
It depends on the thermometer. An old-style liquid thermometer might contain: * mercury (silvery) * alcohol (usually dyed red or blue for visibility) * an alloy of sodium and potassium (silvery) * an alloy of gallium, indium, and tin (silvery) * any of a number of other things depending on the temperature range to be measured Electronic thermometers contain a thermocouple plus electronics to turn the potential generated by the thermocouple into a temperature reading.
What element is a liquid in thermometers?
In the past, Mercury was used in ALL thermometers, oral or rectal for human use. But Mercury poses health risks. So they changed the internal workings to electronic components.As an historical point of view, when I grew up, all thermometers contained mercury enclosed in thin glass. If the thermometer was dropped, it could easily break. Mercury when spilled is attracted to it's own droplets. So although the mercury spilled out, it formed little round silver balls that could easily be pushed together, separated again, and pushed back together---all with one finger! Children delighted in "playing" with it, until the droplets rolled around in enough dust that they did not attract to each other as well. Then, we pushed the remaining balls onto a piece of paper and threw it into the regular garbage, which was then burned outdoors or in the coal furnace. After 1980s, they began making thermometers without mercury from fears about mercury toxicity and mercury poisoning. (But plenty of people now over 50 years old never experienced bad effects from playing with mercury droplets.)
How long should you keep the thermometer under your tongue?
You must hold your mouth closed and keep the thermometer in place for a certain period of time. If you have a digital thermometer, it will tell you when it's "done". If you are using an old "mercury thermometer", the thermometer must stay under the tongue for at least a minute to 2 minutes.NOTE: Mercury thermometers are being phased out. The mercury inside is highly toxic and you should dispose of all mercury thermometers by taking them to a recycling center that handles that. DO NOT THROW IT IN THE TRASH. Mercury is poisonous to every living thing.UPDATE: GERATHERM offers MERCURY FREE thermometers that work the same as the mercury ones. They are supposed to be safe.
What are some facts about Mercury?
Mercury, the planet. Mercury is the second smallest planet in the solar system, the smallest is Pluto. It is the closest planet to the sun; it is known as an inner planet. Its speed helps pervent it from getting sucked into the sun. It orbits round the sun in about 88 earth days but takes 58 earth days to rotate once. Mercury has no atmosphere so it is a poor place to live. Mercury, the element Mercury is a highly toxic element. Humans exposed to mercury can die from mercury poisoning. All old oral and rectal thermometers contained a cylinder of mercury; kids at home and in chemistry class used to deliberately pour out mercury to 'play' with it because mercury always splits into small balls that join and split from the main body of mercury in whatever amount. At the time, the health risks of being exposed and touching mercury were not known as they are known today. Today, oral and rectal thermometers are digital and do not contain mercury. In the past, old thermometers were put in trash and trucked to landfills with all other garbage. This left small areas of contamination in the soil and ground water. Mercury must be disposed of as toxic waste; most health departments can take old thermometers for appropriate disposal. Industries that contaminate the waters can cause fish to carry high levels of mercury. If humans eat the contaminated fish, it can lead to mercury-related illnesses.
Why is thermometer usually shakes before using?
It isn't necessary with new electronic thermometers, but if you still have an old hold-under-your-tongue-for-three-minutes mercury thermometer, the mercury will remain at the last recorded temperature until it is shaken back into the reservoir.
What different types of thermometers exist?
Contributed by 1st grader Mackenzie and her mom Julie: There are circle thermometers which are like a clock and you read the numbers from left to right. There are stick thermometers that go under your tongue, your arm pit or other body parts. The numbers go from bottom to top. There are digital thermometers that can go in your ear, on your finger or other body parts. There are inside thermometers and outside thermometers to tell the general warmth/coolness of the space/environment. There are different scales - Fahrenheit and Celsius. Thermometers may be used to take a person's body temperature, to tell how warm/cold it is outside or in a room, to test whether food is cooked to a desired temperature to be safe. We hope we helped you.
