Answered Question

eger

M$5 February 05, 2009 11:58 PM

What are the small black balls inside a floating thermometer (the kind used in wine/beer making)?

While making wine at home we dropped the floating thermometer (similar to the one pictured below) into the wine. It hit the bottom and cracked. The thermometer is still intact, but some of the outer glass and black balls got into the mix. We plan on filtering the wine, so we're not worried about the glass. However, we don't know what the black balls are made of and if it will still be safe for consumption. Are the contents of the thermometer dangerous? Is our wine ruined?

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theotherpa...

February 06, 2009 12:04 AM

some are lead shot others bismuth for food thermometers they distribute the heat evenly from the glass media to the bulb.
Source(s):
high school chemistry

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pazaq

February 06, 2009 12:08 AM

Ignore my answer. I agree with him.

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pazaq

February 06, 2009 12:06 AM

Umm that's not a thermometer. It's a Hydrometer. And the Little black balls are just weights. Usually made out of steel or iron. A hydrometer floats in the beer and based on how much of the top sticks out tells you the approximate amount of alcohol in your beer.
Source(s):
http://homebrewheaven.com/hydrometer-triple-scale.htm

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drmatt

February 06, 2009 12:13 AM - Fact Refuted

That's a thermometer. You can clearly see the mercury tube and the Fahrenheit scale on one side and the Celsius on the other.

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