Question

why is mercury used as a thermometric fluid

Answer 1

Answer:

Mercury is the only metal that is in liquid state at room temperature. It is used in thermometers because it has a high coefficient of expansion which makes it easy to move in the thermometers as per the temperatures. Mercury has a boiling point which makes it suitable to measure higher temperatures.

Answer 2

Explanation:

There are many reasons for using mercury as a thermometric liquid, here are listed a few:

Mercury has high melting and boiling points making it a liquid over a broad range of temperature.

Since it is a metal, it has a stable coefficient of expansion hence it expands uniformly and noticeably for a slight change of temperature.

Mercury is a non sticky viscous metal and hence it makes a clear meniscus, helpful in readings.

Mercury will not expand when it solidifies hence it doesn’t break the glass tube of the thermometer.