thermometer contents

[Steven c]

I just found my thermometer smashed at the bottom of my empty tank with some other bits. It's quite a new one brought from pets@h it sticks to the front of the glass, my question is what is the little balls at the bottom made of as they are all over the tank and floor? I know they use to make them from Mercury I have small children so I have concerns

 

[Greenfinger2]

Hi Steven, Think there safe now.

ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-in-glass_thermometer

 

[EnderUK]

To many Mad Hatters kept escaping.

 

[jagillham]

I think the OP makes reference to not the temp bit, but the weight(s) in the bottom of the floating types?

Mercury is liquid at room temp. I assume the balls are lead or steel.

 

[zozo]

Home beer brewers also conserned with this, seem those ball are steel.. So if at the bottom of the tank they could be picked up with a magnet. You probably could check a non broken floating thermometer with a magnet to see if it's steel balls..
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=292495
As jagillham sais they are there as counterweight to make the thermometer float verticaly.. The temp indicator fluid is nowadays a safe hydrocarbon (oil) and alcohol fluid mixture.

 

[Steven c]

yes they must be steel, as you said. I picked them up with a magnet. I didn't think it was mercury but just wanted to make sure.

balls of steel!