# What is in those tiny novelty thermometers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 5, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108 "2015-08-05T23:16:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108/1 "2015-08-05T23:16:18Z")

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You know the ones on keyrings or fridge magnets and other cheap stuff?

I have one on a magnet, it is surprisingly perfectly accurate. It has a red liquid inside, obviously not mercury.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108/2 "2015-08-05T23:17:09Z")

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Usually alcohol. The red is dye.

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**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108/3 "2015-08-05T23:43:45Z")

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Right.

And in glass thermometers with silver liquid, the liquid nowadays is galinstan.

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**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108/4 "2015-08-06T00:57:02Z")

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Huh. I just learned a new word! Thanks! 🙂

_“The marketing name is a portmanteau of gallium, indium, and stannum (Latin for “tin”).”_

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**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-in-those-tiny-novelty-thermometers/727108/5 "2015-08-06T01:10:00Z")

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> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Usually alcohol. The red is dye.

Thanks!