Ladeza, Louise L.

CHM142L

The task consists of the determination of the refractive index of methanol (CH3OH), ethanol (CH3CH2OH) and
their mixtures described by the volumetric percentage of methanol (  % CH3OH). The measurement results into
calibration curve (refractive index as a function of   % CH3OH). This curve is used to determine the composition
of an unknown mixture of methanol and ethanol.

Describe how refractive index is being measured using Abbe's refractometer and how refractive index is related to
concentration of the sample.

In the Abbe' refractometer, the fluid example is sandwiched into a

slight layer illuminating prism and a refracting prism. The refracting prism is
made of a glass with a high refractive index and the refractometer is
intended to be utilized with tests having a refractive index smaller than that
of the refracting prism. A light source is projected through the illuminating
prism, the base surface of which is ground, so each point on this surface can
be considered as producing light beams going every way. The refractive
index is defined as the quotient of speed of light as it passes through two
media and increases linearly with concentration under the interaction
conditions between solute ions and various volumes after controlling for
dissolution. As we probably are aware, for a solute molecule, the molecular
weight shows the absolute number of electrons and protons of this particle.
The electrons and protons of an atom create electrical fields. Moreover, the
moving electrons produce attractive fields. The strength of resultant of these
electrical and attractive fields increments as the quantity of electron and
proton increases. The solute atom with more grounded electrical and
attractive field creates more grounded connection with dissolvable particle.
In this manner, in an aqueous solution, the strength of interaction among
solute and dissolvable particles increases by expanding of solute atomic
weight.