Spirit thermometers

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Cuishie
Posts: 19
Joined: 25 May 2006, 10:00
State/Location: WA

Spirit thermometers

Post by 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!!!
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dime
Posts: 703
Joined: 13 Jun 2007, 09:55
State/Location: NSW

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by 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?
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matchstick
Posts: 134
Joined: 27 Feb 2009, 09:07
Job Title: School Admin.Assistant
School: Strathfield South Public School
Suburb: Strathfield
State/Location: NSW

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by matchstick »

Tell them to brake one and find out for themselves if they are that curoius! :coffee:
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smiley
Posts: 1398
Joined: 20 Nov 2006, 10:00
State/Location: QLD

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by 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. :thumbup:

Cheers, K
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noona
Posts: 900
Joined: 11 May 2007, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Tech
School: Greystanes High School
Suburb: Greystanes
State/Location: NSW

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by noona »

I have only had green come from geen ones and red from red ones :-o :-o :-o
I think some one is having you on 8O 8O 8O
or maybe they are coloured blind :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Noona
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Labbie
Posts: 3273
Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Retired
Suburb: At Home
State/Location: NSW

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by 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.
Regards Labbie

Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired :wub:
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Ocker
Posts: 911
Joined: 01 Jun 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab attendant
State/Location: NSW

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by 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!
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dime
Posts: 703
Joined: 13 Jun 2007, 09:55
State/Location: NSW

Re: Spirit thermometers

Post by 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! 8O
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