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Calibration of a Thermometer
1. A thermometer must be calibrated before it can be used to measure temperature.
2. To produce a temperature scale for a thermometer, two standard (reference)
temperatures must first be selected. The two standard temperatures must be such that
they can be reproduced in a laboratory anywhere in the world.
3. In the Celsius temperature scale, the first standard temperature is the melting
point of pure ice which is 0oC. This is also called the ice point (lower fixed point).
4. The second standard temperature is the boiling point of pure water which is 100oC.
This is also called the steam point (upper fixed point).
5. Note that both temperatures are taken from the same material, water, at a fixed
pressure of 1 atmosphere.

Calibration of a Mercury-in-glass Thermometer in Degree Celsius

A mercury-in-glass thermometer is calibrated using the following procedures.
1. To determine the ice point:
a) The bulb of an uncalibrated thermometer is placed in melting ice cubes in a filter
funnel.
b) Mercury level decreases until thermal equilibrium is achieved between
thermometer and ice.
c) The level of the mercury is marked on the stem as 0oC. The length of mercury
column,l0 is measured.
2. To determine the steam point:
a) The thermometer is placed in steam above boiling water in a boiling flask.
b) Mercury level increases until thermal equilibrium is achieved between
thermometer and steam.
c) The level of the mercury is marked on the stem as 100oC. The length of mercury
column,l100 is measured.
3. The space between the 0oC and 100oC is divided into 100 equal gradations so that
each gradation represents a temperature rise of 1oC. The calibrated thermometer can
now be used to measure temperatures between 0oC and 100oC.
4. If gradations are not marked on the thermometer, the temperature of a substance,
can be determined using the following formula.
l l0
Temperature, = 100 o C
l100 l0

Precautions:
1. When determining the ice point 0oC, pure ice must be used since the presence of
impurities will lower the melting point.
2. When determining the steam point 100oC, the water must be boiled at standard
atmospheric pressure as a change in pressure will change the boiling point of water.
The presence of impurities will also affect the boiling point of water but it has no
effect on the temperature of the steam produced.