Home PYQs UPPSC UPPSC MCQs Prelims 1997 (GS Paper I)

Question

In cold countries alcohol is preferred to mercury as a thermometric liquid because:

  1. alcohol has a lower freezing point
  2. alcohol is a better conductor of heat
  3. alcohol is cheaper than mercury
  4. the world production of alcohol is greater than that of mercury

Answer:

Option A: alcohol has a lower freezing point

Detailed Solution:

The correct answer is “alcohol has a lower freezing point”.

Alcohol (such as ethanol) remains liquid at much lower temperatures compared to mercury, which freezes at about -39 °C.