EXPERIMENT-6

AIM: Measuring refractive index of sample, to calculate its concentration using Refractometer

THEORY:
A refractometer is a laboratory instrument used to measure the refractive index of a liquid. The
refractive index is a value that describes the amount by which light is bent when it passes from
air into a substance. The refractive index of a liquid can be used to determine its concentration or
composition.

The principle behind a refractometer is based on the law of refraction, which states that the ratio
of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction is equal to the ratio of
the indices of refraction of the two media namely called Snell’s law

In other words, the amount by which light is bent when it passes from air into a liquid is
proportional to the refractive index of the liquid.

When light enters a liquid, it slows down, causing it to bend. The extent to which light bends
depends on the refractive index of the liquid and the angle of incidence, which is the angle
between the incoming light and the surface of the liquid. By measuring the angle of refraction,
the refractive index of the liquid can be determined.
There are two main types of refractometers: optical refractometers and digital refractometers.

Optical Refractometers: These are the traditional type of refractometers that have been used for
many years. They typically use a monochromatic light source, such as a light-emitting diode
(LED) or a tungsten lamp, and a calibrated prism to measure the angle of refraction. The light is
directed onto the liquid sample, and the angle of refraction is then measured using a scale, which
is usually engraved on the prism. The refractive index of the liquid can then be calculated based
on the angle of refraction and the known index of refraction of the prism.

Digital Refractometers: These are a newer type of refractometer that use electronic sensors to
measure the refractive index of a liquid. They typically consist of a light source, such as an LED,
a photodetector, and an electronic display. The light is directed onto the liquid sample, and the
angle of refraction is then measured by the photodetector. The refractive index of the liquid is
then calculated by the onboard microprocessor and displayed on the electronic display. Digital
refractometers are often more accurate and convenient than optical refractometers, and they can
be easily connected to a computer for data analysis.
In our lab we employ the use of a digital refractometer, which gives 3 kinds of reading namely
ND, ND20 ,BRIX. ND, ND20, and Brix are terms commonly used in the field of refractometry
to describe the properties of liquids.

ND (Refractive Index): The ND (refractive index) value of a liquid is a measure of the amount
by which light is bent when it passes from air into the liquid. The ND value is a dimensionless
number that is used to describe the refractive index of a liquid and is typically expressed as a
decimal value. The higher the ND value, the more the light is bent when it enters the liquid.

ND20: ND20 is a unit of measurement used to describe the refractive index of a liquid at a
specific temperature (usually 20°C). This value is commonly used in the food and beverage
industry to measure the sugar content of liquids, such as fruit juices and syrups.

Brix: Brix is a unit of measurement that is commonly used in the food and beverage industry to
describe the concentration of sugar in a liquid. The Brix value is a measure of the amount of
sugar in a solution and is typically expressed as a percentage. Brix values are used to determine
the sweetness of a liquid and can be useful in a variety of food and beverage applications,
including the production of soft drinks, fruit juices, and syrups.

PARTS OF DIGITAL REFRACTOMETER:

1. Light source: A light source, such as an LED, is used to illuminate the liquid sample.
2. Photodetector: A photodetector, such as a photodiode, is used to measure the angle of
refraction of the light as it passes through the liquid sample.
3. Microprocessor: An onboard microprocessor is used to calculate the refractive index of the
liquid based on the measurement from the photodetector.
4. Display: An electronic display is used to show the refractive index value of the liquid.
5. User interface: A user interface, with a screen that display readings, an ON/OFF button,
READ button to read the sample and switch between ND, ND20 ,BRIX and ZERO button to turn
the reading to zero 0.

METHODOLOGY:
1. Prepare the liquid sample: To prepare the liquid sample we first make the stock solution of
15% by weight sugar solution total volume 100 ml, To prepare it we mix 15 grams of sugar in
100 ml of water. Now we prepare 5 different concentrations of sample(20 ml each) 5%, 7%,
10%, 12.5%, 14% from our stock solution by adding 6.66, 9.33, 13.33, 16.66, 18.66 ml of stock
solution respectively and rest water.

2. Load the sample: Load the liquid sample into the measurement cell of the refractometer,
taking care not to spill or contaminate the sample we also cover the measurement cell to
minimise possibility of light interaction. After this we press the ON/OFF button.

3. Set the standard value of the refractive index: Here we select the standard as air and give its
refractive index a value of 1.00.

4. Start the measurement: Press the READ button to start the measurement. The refractive
index(ND) of the liquid will be calculated and displayed on the electronic display. If we press the
READ button again we get a value of ND20 and if we press once again we get a Brix value.

5. Read the value: Read the refractive index value from the electronic display. The value will be
displayed in the selected unit (e.g., ND, Brix, and ND20.).

6. Clean the cell: After the measurement, clean the measurement cell thoroughly to avoid
contamination of future samples.

RESULT:
We will get the following result.
Concentration Stock(in ml) Water(in ml) Sugar% (Brix Refractive
value) Index
5% 6.66 13.33 4.5% 1.3392
7% 9.33 10.66 6.5% 1.3420
10% 13.33 6.66 9.3% 1.3463
12.5% 16.66 3.33 11.5% 1.3498
14% 18.66 1.33 12.9% 1.3519
CONCLUSION:
By using above data we can conclude that concentration of unknown sample (refractive index
1.3521) is 14.285 %