How to Tell if a Thermometer Is Mercury

Thermometers can be used in a variety of applications and come in a variety of styles. They are often used for measuring body temperature, air temperature, or liquids used in cooking and candy-making. These common thermometers look like slender glass vials, usually several inches long, with a bulb at one end. The bulb senses temperature, while the sides of the vial provide a scale for measuring the temperature in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Distinguishing between different types of thermometers is straightforward and usually does not require any tools.

Remove the case around the thermometer so that you can see the thermometer's bulb and vial. To view the temperature-sensing element of a thermostat, lift off the faceplate.

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Look at the thermometer. If the bulb and vial are filled with a silver, metallic liquid, you have a mercury thermometer 2. While accurate, the mercury inside the thermometer is very dangerous if it comes in contact with skin 2. Take care in handling the thermometer so that it does not crack or break.

Check if your thermometer is filled with a red-tinted fluid. This type of thermometer uses alcohol, not mercury, to sense temperature 2. These types of thermometers are safer because if the glass vial breaks, the alcohol will simply evaporate and will not cause any harm.

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See if your thermometer has a dial. Many thermometers that use a dial, such as candy thermometers, use a metal spring that is sensitive to heat. As the metal heats and expands, the spring slowly unwinds, driving the dial or arrow attached to one end of a spring. A thermometer that registers temperature with a round dial uses this type of mechanism.

See if your thermometer has a digital display. Such thermometers use a metal probe to sense temperature. Electronic components in the thermometer can take very accurate and fast temperature readings. They are also safe, since they can withstand temperature extremes without breaking.

Warnings

Mercury is a dangerous metal. If a mercury thermometer breaks or leaks, it can release toxic vapors. Do not clean up spilled mercury with bare hands. Use protective gloves and contact a poison control center if any mercury is ingested or comes in contact with your skin.