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What type of thermometer for use with hotplate?

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sameoldsongam

sameoldsongam

Rising Star
I just got a hotplate. The temperature dial on it is on a scale of 1-10. I understand the max it heats to is around 475F. What type of thermometer is best for determining the temperature of a liquid being heated? What type of thermometer would be best for determining the temperature of a solid being heated and how exactly would you do this? Thanks in advance for any info. :)
 
Hello sameoldsongam.

This is what I would do.
For liquid, any thermometer will work.
Fot solid, I use an infrared thermometer.
IME,It's better to take the temperature of the container,
insead of the solid itself,
cuz I can't be sure that IR is measuring the compounds correctly.

Place a seal that usually comes with the IR thermo onto the container,
and take the temperature there.
(IR thermo cannot take the temperature of metal directly.)
 
yeh I think you are right.
If it's not reflective, you may use to it deirctly.
But most metal containers are reflective, aren't they?

I poured hot water inside and took the temperture of the water
with a normal thermometer and then, usuig an IR thermo, I took the temp from outside.

In my case readings differed very, so I placed a seal.(Mine was reflective)

Anyway, IR thermo readings should not be trusted blindedly, so if you have multiple kinds of thermometers it's perfect.
 
IR therms have saved my hands from burns many times...its also very nice to get a quick reading of AROUND what the temperature is...just use the IR therm alll over the place and you get an idea of how hot your experiment is
 
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