Spirit thermometers

[Cuishie]

To all you wonderful labbies out there,
This is going to sound like a really dumb question but I'm going to ask it anyway and risk looking like an idiot, why, when you break a spirit thermometer that seems to have red liquid in it while unbroken, does the liquid come out green if the thermometer is broken? Hope someone can help me with this so I can impart our wonderful knowledge upon both the teachers and the students who were curious about it!!!

[dime]

Sorry, but I've only had green from green spirit therms and red from red spirit therms. Don't suppose someone is pulling the wool over, are they?

[matchstick]

Tell them to brake one and find out for themselves if they are that curoius!

[smiley]

Hey Matchstick,

You work in an all boys school, don't you? Be careful, they're starting to rub off.

Maybe the real reason is because they use alien blood in the thermometers, and it oxidises when it hits the air.

Cheers, K

[noona]

I have only had green come from geen ones and red from red ones
I think some one is having you on
or maybe they are coloured blind
Noona

[Labbie]

And do not forget to store your Non Mercury thermometers VERTICALLY, or they will seperate. To get them back together, please do a search for Thermometers, it is easy and worth while doing.

[Ocker]

From A MAN!
The liquid in thermometers is Ethanol which is clear, so they have to add a dye.
Obviously the dye is also an indicator.
SIMPLE!

[dime]

Hi justsue
I've had the alcohol thems for 16 years and never stored them vertically, and no problems. Only problems are the students sometimes!