Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Measuring Temperature
Dr. DeBacco
Keep Thermometer from Touching Container
If the thermometer bulb/senser touches the container, the temperature of the container will be measured instead of the temperature of the solution.
This is of particular importance if the container is on a hotplate or in an ice bath.
*For accurate reading be sure the sensor is surrounded by the substance.
Units to Measure Temperature
Units are important
Fahrenheit
Water boils: 212°F
Water freezes: 32°F
Celsius
Water boils: 100°C
Water freezes: 0°C
Kelvin
Water boils: 373 K
Water freezes: 273 K
There is Another… Rankine (and even Réaumur)
Rankine being an absolute scale related to Fahrenheit
Réaumur being a scale based on water's freezing and boiling points
Why Use Fahrenheit?
Used mainly from historical reasons in the following countries
United States
Liberia
The Cayman Islands
Palau
The Federated States of Micronesia
Why Use Celsius?
Widely used across the world
Based on the freezing and boiling points of water
Standard unit for temperature in the metric system
Why Use Kelvin?
Used mainly in science since there are no negative numbers
Called an Absolute Scale
Makes calculations simpler
Follows the same increments as Celsius
Why Use Rankine?
Also is an absolute scale (like Kelvin) but uses Fahrenheit based increments
Used primary in engineering in the United Stated and United Kingdom
Why Use Réaumur?
The Réaumur temperature scale, established by René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur in 1731.
This is a historical temperature scale where water freezes at 0°Ré and boils at 80°Ré.
It was once widely used but has largely been replaced by Celsius and Fahrenheit scale
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1uUZUdKtuNEXJMSelp7Zera2H7LfsolDj/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Measuring Temperature" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1x5Xcgaq55Eq6SFolnsJsVreZLDZuHwbA/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Measuring Temperature
Dr. DeBacco
Keep Thermometer from Touching Container
If the thermometer bulb/senser touches the container, the temperature of the container will be measured instead of the temperature of the solution.
This is of particular importance if the container is on a hotplate or in an ice bath.
*For accurate reading be sure the sensor is surrounded by the substance.
Units to Measure Temperature
Units are important
Fahrenheit
Water boils: 212°F
Water freezes: 32°F
Celsius
Water boils: 100°C
Water freezes: 0°C
Kelvin
Water boils: 373 K
Water freezes: 273 K
There is Another… Rankine (and even Réaumur)
Rankine being an absolute scale related to Fahrenheit
Réaumur being a scale based on water's freezing and boiling points
Why Use Fahrenheit?
Used mainly from historical reasons in the following countries
United States
Liberia
The Cayman Islands
Palau
The Federated States of Micronesia
Why Use Celsius?
Widely used across the world
Based on the freezing and boiling points of water
Standard unit for temperature in the metric system
Why Use Kelvin?
Used mainly in science since there are no negative numbers
Called an Absolute Scale
Makes calculations simpler
Follows the same increments as Celsius
Why Use Rankine?
Also is an absolute scale (like Kelvin) but uses Fahrenheit based increments
Used primary in engineering in the United Stated and United Kingdom
Why Use Réaumur?
The Réaumur temperature scale, established by René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur in 1731.
This is a historical temperature scale where water freezes at 0°Ré and boils at 80°Ré.
It was once widely used but has largely been replaced by Celsius and Fahrenheit scale
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1uUZUdKtuNEXJMSelp7Zera2H7LfsolDj/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Measuring Temperature" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/1x5Xcgaq55Eq6SFolnsJsVreZLDZuHwbA/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
