The first temperature measuring instrument was created by Galileo Galilei and was initially baptized as a thermoscope. The thermoscope was a glass tube with a closed sphere at one end that was immersed in a mixture of water and alcohol that was heated so that it went up the tube where a numerical scale was located.
Since then, the Galileo thermometer Galileo has evolved to adapt to all kinds of measurements, being the mercury thermometer (created by Gabriel Fahrenheit in 1714) one of the most used in the world to measure body temperature. However, due to its high toxicity, its manufacture is prohibited in many countries.
Although many people still rely on mercury thermometers to measure body temperature, it is increasingly difficult to find them in the market. One solution is to use digital thermometers, although sometimes they give the feeling that each time they are used offers a different measurement unlike traditional mercury thermometers.
If digital thermometers do not convince you, a solution is to use gallium thermometers, these being the best alternative to those of a lifetime. Gallium thermometers, like mercury thermometers, are considered the most accurateTheir main disadvantage is the long time required to obtain the correct measurement, in addition to being made of glass, so they are very fragile to any fall that may occur.
What is gallium
As I mentioned above, mercury stopped being used in the manufacture of thermometers in 2007, when the European Union banned it due to its high level of toxicity not just for people, but also for the environment.
The substitute for mercury in thermometers was gallium, rather galinstane (galinstan in English: gallium, ingave and stannum), an alloy of gallium (68,5%), indium (21,5%) and tin (10%) that offers an accuracy very similar to what we could find in mercury thermometers.
Gallium used for in nuclear power plants to stabilize plutonium, inside telescopes to find neutrinos, is present in some types of solar panels and mirrors, it can be applied to aluminum to generate hydrogen by reacting with water, it is used to treat people with excess calcium in the blood ...
Advantages of gallium thermometers
The advantages of gallium thermometers they are practically the same ones that we could already find in mercury thermometers and that apply to most non-digital thermometers.
- Durability over time. Like mercury thermometers, the lifespan of gallium thermometers is infinite, that is, it will always work like the first day as long as they do not break.
- El error range it is 0,1 ° C.
- By not incorporating mercury, they are sustainable for the environment and can be easily recycled.
- Although there are all prices, in general, they are cheaper than digital thermometers.
- Easy cleaning, since with a little soap we can limit the glass.
How Gallium Thermometers Work
The operation of gallium thermometers is the same as that of mercury thermometers. The first thing to check before placing it in the measuring area is that the liquid inside is below 36 degrees shaking it repeatedly until it is at that level.
Then we place it in the area of the body where we want to measure, generally in the mouth, armpit or rectum and we waited for at least 4 minutes. Unlike digital thermometers that measure in seconds, gallium thermometers (like mercury ones) require a few minutes to make the correct measurement.
Once we have obtained the corresponding measurement we must clean the measuring area of the thermometer with hand soap and shake it repeatedly until the gallium is below 36 degrees and store it in the corresponding case in a cool, ventilated place, protected from sunlight.
What happens if a gallium thermometer breaks
Gallium Thermometers are made of glass, so that before any accidental fall they can break and be totally useless forcing us to buy a new one.
Regarding the content of its interior, gallium is not a toxic material as if it is the mercury that were in the first thermometers that were manufactured until mid-2007 in Europe.
If we are curious to touch the gallium, when finding it in contact with the skin will disappear due to body color. The same happens when a thermometer that uses colored alcohol to make temperature measurements breaks. With the remains of the thermometer, being glass, we can recycle it in the corresponding recycling container.
What gallium thermometer to buy
Unlike mercury thermometers, gallium thermometers They are not all the same as each offers extra functionality. If we are looking for the best gallium thermometers, we must take into account what characteristics it offers us and what makes them different from the rest.
When buying a gallium thermometer, we must bear in mind that the glass do not include toxic materials and that it is not made of plastic materials, since these do not offer us an accurate measurement. If it is also made with anti-allergenic materials, the better.
When lowering the temperature to take a measurement again or put it back in its case, we must shake the thermometer. Some models incorporate a system called shaker, which allows it to be shaken in a faster and more comfortable way, avoiding during the process it can jump through the air.
The measuring range of all thermometers is between 35,5 and 42 degrees, so if we find models that offer us a broader measurement, we must distrust them, since the body temperature of a living body can only be found between that maximum and minimum
Another feature that we must take into account when buying a gallium thermometer is if it incorporates a lens that makes it easier to read the temperature. Thermometers have never been characterized by offering an easy measurement to see mainly due to their size, so if it incorporates a lens that facilitates reading it will always be appreciated.