I surmise it's some kind of alcohol, but is there a standard chemical used for these?
One of them just exploded in my students' lab! It was the kind with blue fluid in it.
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3$\begingroup$ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_thermometer $\endgroup$– ZheMar 2, 2018 at 15:22
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1$\begingroup$ exploded, as in "ignited/fireball" or as in "overheated and glass broken due to pressure"? $\endgroup$– dlatikayMar 3, 2018 at 18:01
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$\begingroup$ @dlatikay the latter. Loud pop. No combustion that I know of $\endgroup$– khaverimMar 3, 2018 at 18:25
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2 Answers
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As per the Wikipedia page on Spirit Thermometers:
The liquid used can be pure ethanol, toluene, kerosene or isoamyl acetate, depending on manufacturer and working temperature range. Since these are transparent, the liquid is made more visible by the addition of a red or blue dye.
1,4-bis(butylamino)anthraquinone - commonly known as "Oil Blue 35" - may possibly be used as the blue dye.
answered Mar 2, 2018 at 15:33
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Another organic solvent used may be pentane. Perhaps the common ones contain toluene dyed with a red aniline dye .
Other spirit filled thermometers variants include:
- Blue fill contains isoamyl benzoate;
- Red fill may contain kerosene or pentane with aniline dye
Aniline red
Acknowledgements
- Spirit-Filled Glass Thermometers: Document
answered Mar 2, 2018 at 16:52