True or False? Laboratory liquid-in-glass thermometers should be calibrated against an NIST-certified thermometer.

True or False? Laboratory liquid-in-glass thermometers should be calibrated against an NIST-certified thermometer.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not applicable
• D. Depends on the institution

Answer: (A)

Establishing traceability to national standards by calibrating against a NIST-certified reference thermometer ensures that temperature measurements are accurate, comparable, and defensible over time and across instruments. Liquid-in-glass thermometers can drift due to aging glass, changes in the liquid column, or manufacturing variances, so using a known, highly accurate standard allows you to quantify and correct any offset. In practice, you compare the lab thermometer to a NIST-traceable reference across the measurement range and apply the appropriate correction or recalibrate. Verification at fixed points such as ice water (0 °C) and a known boiling point helps confirm proper operation, but the authoritative basis for accuracy is the NIST traceability of the reference standard.

Establishing traceability to national standards by calibrating against a NIST-certified reference thermometer ensures that temperature measurements are accurate, comparable, and defensible over time and across instruments. Liquid-in-glass thermometers can drift due to aging glass, changes in the liquid column, or manufacturing variances, so using a known, highly accurate standard allows you to quantify and correct any offset. In practice, you compare the lab thermometer to a NIST-traceable reference across the measurement range and apply the appropriate correction or recalibrate. Verification at fixed points such as ice water (0 °C) and a known boiling point helps confirm proper operation, but the authoritative basis for accuracy is the NIST traceability of the reference standard.