I.

Abstract
The aim of this experiment is to determine the refractive index of different percent of solution by
the use of Abbe Mark II Refractometer. 10% to90%of ethanol and sucrose solution were
prepared and used for the experiment. Drop of solution from 10% - 90% were put in a prism
after it was cleaned and calibrated using distilled water. The correct adjustment of the
refractometer was done, that is, the demarcation line between light and dark fields seen through
the eyepiece is distinct and intersects the cross hairs and the index of refraction of solution were
recorded. Refractive index that we obtained are 0.2, 1.2, 3.0, 4.4, 4.8, 5.0, 5.2, 5.9 and for the
sucrose 3.6, 6.4, 11.0, 13.8, 16.0, 20.4, 23.8, 27.0, 29.5 respectively. In this experiment the
relationship between the identities of the mixture were concluded. The refractive index of
solution as the water content of it is increases.

II. Introduction
Refraction is the change in direction of propagation of an electromagnetic wave as the wave
passes from one medium to another of different density this phenomenon can be seen clearly in a
prism which uses refraction in order to bend a ray of light, such as a laser, so that its direction of
propagation changes upon both entering and leaving the prism
Refractive index is defined as the speed of light in vacuum divided by the speed of light in the
medium or simply a value calculated from the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to that in a
second medium of greater density. In most cases, the refractive index is linearly related to the
percentage of dissolved solids in a solution.

III. Theoretical Background

When light rays pass from one transparent medium to another transparent medium, the rays will
be deviated from its original path when it enters the other medium. The reason for this deviation
is that light travels with different speed in different media. This effect is called refraction. The
refractive index (n) for any medium with respect to air is equal to the ratio of the speed of light in
air (c ) to the speed of light in the medium(n=c/v). It is observed that when light passes from a
less dense medium, like air, to a denser medium like glass, the beam of light is deflected towards
the normal.

Refractive index is based on Snell’s law and according to Snell's law the refractive index (n) for
a medium relative to air can be related to the angle of incidence (өi) of the rays from air to the
angle of refraction of the same ray in the medium (өr). The equation for this is:

sin 𝜃𝑖
𝜂=
sin 𝜃𝑟

IV. Procedure
A. Calibration with distilled water
Step 1. Place two to three drops of distilled water on the measuring prism and let it stand
for three minutes to attain temperature stability. Turn the mode selector switch to
refractive index position.
Step 2. Focus the eyepiece until the crosshair appears clearly. Rotate the adjustment control
clockwise until the shadow line meets the crosshair. Using the dispersion correction wheel,
obtain the sharpest color-free shadow line. Press the read button and record
.

B. Measurement of Refractive index of solutions

Step 1. Prepare solutions of ethyl alcohol and sucrose to make solutions with concentrations 10%
to 90% in 10% interval.

Step 2. Before replacing each solution to be tested, clean the prism surface by two drops of
distilled water and wipe with clean cloth.Obtain an unknown sample from your instructor and
determine

V. Result

I. Calibration using Distilled Water

DISTILLED WATER TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3 AVERAGE

Temperature (°𝐶) 20 20 20 20
Refractive Index 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.17

II. Measurement of Refractive Index of Solutions

LIQUID SAMPLE
Ethanol Sucrose
CONCENTRATIONS REFRACTIVE TEMPERATURE REFRACTIVE TEMPERATURE
INDEX INDEX
 10% 0.2 20 3.16 20
20% 1.2 20 6.4 20
30% 3.0 20 11.0 20
40% 4.4 20 13.8 20
50% 4.8 20 16.0 20
60% 5.0 20 20.4 20
70% 5.2 20 23.8 20
80% 5.9 20 27 20
90% 20 29.5 20

VI. Discussion of Results

The experiment conducted shows that the index of refraction of 10% to 90%in 10% interval of
ethanol and sucrose was obtained and concluded by the Abbe Mark II refractometer. As for the
result, the mole fraction of water decreases as the specific refraction and molecular refraction
increases because the value of the refractive index of ethanol is a higher than water and since the
sucrose and ethanol are denser. Based from the values in the table we obtained result were close
to the desired value and it shown that the concentration of ethanol and sucrose solution are
directly proportional to the index of refraction at constant temperature. Also according to the
properties of Ethanol it will quickly evaporated if it’s exposed in the atmosphere for a long
period of time So it would be better for the ethanol solution to prepared before the determination
conducted to avoid evaporation .

VII. Conclusions and Recommendations

In this experiment the index of refraction and temperature of water ethanol and sucrose solution
were determined. As shown in the table the refractive index increases as the mole fraction of
ethanol and sucrose decrease, since water has a greater refractive index that the ethanol and
sucrose, therefore adding up more water to the mixture would increases its refractive index, and
we concluded that the values of refractive index we obtained were close to the ideal value.

Make sure that the refractometer will be properly cleaned calibrated and it is a must to drop two
to three distilled water on the prism of the refractometer and wiped and dried to lessen the
occurrence of error.

VIII. Literature Cited

 https://www.slideshare.net
 Index of Refraction. (n.d.). Retrieved September 18, 2017 from http://hyperphysics.phy-
astr.gsu.edu/hbase/geoopt/refr.html.
 http://www.fem.unicamp.br

IX. Nomenclature

Water
Chemical Name: Water; Dihydrogenoxide;Distilled water;water
Vapor
Molecular Formula: H2O
Molecular weight: 18.015g/mol

Sucrose
Chemical Name: Sucrose; saccharose
Molecular Formula: C12H22O11
Molecular weight: 342.2965ol
Ethanol
Chemical Name: Ethano;Ethy Alcohol
Molecular Formula: C2H5OH
Molecular weight: 46.07 g/mol

Appendices
A1. Raw Data:
Measurement of Refractive Index of Solutions

LIQUID SAMPLE
Ethanol Sucrose
CONCENTRATIONS REFRACTIVE TEMPERATURE REFRACTIVE TEMPERATURE
INDEX INDEX
10% 0.2 20 3.16 20
20% 1.2 20 6.4 20
30% 3.0 20 11.0 20
40% 4.4 20 13.8 20
50% 4.8 20 16.0 20
60% 5.0 20 20.4 20
70% 5.2 20 23.8 20
80% 5.9 20 27 20
90% 20 29.5 20

Ethanol
8
Refractive Index

6
4
2
0
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
concentration

Sucrose
40
Refractive index

30
20
10
0
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
concentration

A2. Analysis of Data and Sample Calculations:

The data in the graph may not be so accurate but close to the value that we expected , it is due to
the occurrence of several error that we encounter during the process, and it shown that the
concentration of ethanol and sucrose solution are directly proportional to the index of refraction.
Since the ethanol and sucrose are denser than the water its index of refraction increased.
 ADAMSON UNIVERSITY
College of Engineering
Chemical Engineering Department
M a ni l a

Experiment No. 6

MEASUREMENT OF REFRACTIVE INDEX

Group Number: 6

Physical Chemistry Lab 1/ 51088/7:00-10:00/Tuesday

Name Student Number Signature

1. Arellano, Ruth G. 201413160

2. Baltazar, Suzanne Clariz 201412709

3. Guinto, Aaron Joshua 201520158

Engr. Jarlie Clemeña

Instructor