Refractometers

Refractometers are optical instruments used to measure the refractive index of a substance.
In certain cases it is also possible to measure certain physical properties in relation to refraction.
Some refractometers are also used to measure liquids or gases. Under certain conditions refractometers can also measure certain physical properties of transparent or translucent bodies such as certain minerals.

Refractometers detect unknown substances

Refractometers are able to reveal various data. It is with the help of a refractometer that substances in a solution are detected.
If an unknown substance is detected in an analysis, a refractometer can be used to find out what it is by its refractive index. One can also determine the degree of purity or the degree of concentration of one component in another.

What refractometers measure:

Refractometers are usually used in the food industry. They analyse, for example, the sugar content in a fluid such as jam, vegetables or drinks. This information is also called the Brix level.
In the biomedical field, refractometers are also used to calculate the specific gravity of urine or the concentration of protein in blood.
In the industrial field, refractometers can also measure the composition of antifreeze or industrial fluids.
A very common use of refractometers is in the fight against food adulteration because they analyse oil, milk and its derivatives, and spirits.

They are also used to measure the sugar content of foodstuffs.

Various types of refractometers

Refractometers are mainly divided into four types:
traditional portable refractometers
digital portable refractometers
Abbe refractometers
process refractometers.

Refractometers are also used in gemology on transparent minerals.
They are used to identify the composition of gems based on their index of refraction. For some particular stones such as rubies, topazes and sapphires they need a polarising filter.
For calculating the salinity and specific gravity of water they are used for aquarium maintenance.
Refractometers are also used in the analysis of all the fluids in a car: antifreeze, coolant, engine oil, etc.

These are also used in the analysis of all the fluids in a car: antifreeze, coolant, engine oil, etc.

These are also used in the analysis of the water in a car.

In addition to these, Rayleigh refractometers that measure the refractive indices of gases are also used for special applications.