Update and new learning about temperature and thermometers

Yesterday, Sylvia asked the question, "What makes mercury so reactive to temperature?"

Mrs Milne asked some of the brainy people she lives with. She learnt:
1. Our thermometers don't contain mercury as it is considered too dangerous for school use. Our thermometers were filled will a type of alcohol with red dye added to it.
2. Science lesson. When liquids get heated, the particles move around so take up more space. When the particles are cooled down, they huddle together and take up less space so the alcohol goes down in the thermometer.