Photo of a Handheld Refractometer used to measure sugar content (Brix level) of fruits. The image includes a view through the eyepiece of the instrument, a small drop of orange juice was put over the measuring prism to take the picture.

A refractometer is an optical instrument that is used to determine the refractive index of a substance. The refractive index (or index of Refraction) of a medium is a measure for how much the speed of light (or other waves such as sound waves is reduced inside the medium This often refers to some physical property of a substance that is directly related to its refractive index. Certain types of refractometers can be used for measuring gases, liquids such as oils or water-based, and even transparent or translucent solids such as gemstones. This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter Liquid is one of the principal States of matter. A liquid is a Fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is A gemstone or gem, also called a precious or semi-precious stone, is a piece of attractive Mineral, which &mdash when cut and polished &mdash

A refractometer can be used to determine the identity of an unknown substance based on its refractive index, to assess the purity of a particular substance, or to determine the concentration of one substance dissolved in another. The refractive index (or index of Refraction) of a medium is a measure for how much the speed of light (or other waves such as sound waves is reduced inside the medium Most commonly, refractometers are used for measuring fluid concentrations such as the sugar content (Brix level, for example in carbonated beverages, fruits, juices, honey and or vegetables, etc), blood protein concentration, salinity and specific gravity of urine. Degrees Brix (symbol °Bx is a measurement of the dissolved Sugar -to-water mass ratio of a liquid The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. JUICE is a widely used non-commercial Software package for editing and analysing phytosociological data Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Salinity is the Saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of Water. Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of the Density of a given solid or liquid substance to the density of water at a specific temperature and pressure typically Refractometers are also used for measuring fluid concentrations for commercial liquids such as antifreeze, cutting fluid, and industrial fluids. Antifreeze is a Cryoprotectant used in Internal combustion engines and for many other heat transfer applications such as electronics cooling and Chillers Cutting fluids are various fluids that are used in Machining to cool and lubricate the cutting tool

Types of refractometers

There are four main types of refractometers: traditional handheld refractometers, digital handheld refractometers, laboratory or Abbe refractometers, and inline process refractometers. A traditional handheld refractometer is a type of Refractometer, a handheld analog instrument for measuring Refractive index that works on the critical angle A digital handheld refractometer is an instrument for measuring the Refractive index of materials An Abbe or laboratory refractometer is a bench-top Refractometer that offer the highest precision of the different types of refractometers Inline process refractometers are a type of Refractometer designed for the continuous measurement of a fluid flowing through a pipe or inside a tank

There is also the Rayleigh Refractometer used (typically) for measuring the refractive indices of gases.

In veterinary medicine, a refractometer is used to measure the total plasma protein in a blood sample. Veterinary medicine the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife Blood proteins, also called serum proteins, are Proteins found in Blood plasma.

External links

• Refractometer - Gemstone Buzz uses, procedure & limitations.
• Rayleigh Refractometer: Operational Principles