Name: Mary Mae M.

Buensuceso Date Performed: June 15, 2013

Section: 3- CHE A Group No.: 2 Date Submitted: Sept. 13, 2013

Experiment No. 2
Refractive Index of Solutions

Abstract:

The refractive index of different proportions of liquids in a binary mixture was

determined in this experiment using the abbe refractometer. The specific and molecular
refractivities of each proportion of liquids of a binary mixture were also determined. Ethanol and
water mixtures were prepared and used for the experiment. Drops of solution were put in the
prism, after it was cleaned and calibrated using 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. The readings of the index of refraction
were recorded. In determining the density of the liquids, we took the ratio of the mass of the
solution to the volume of the pycnometer. We obtained the mass of the solution by taking the
difference of the weighed mass of pycnometer with the liquid inside it and the mass of empty
pycnometer. The values of refractive index that we obtained from 0% to 100% water are
1.373255, 1.373250, 1.373250, 1.373260, 1.371240, 1.368225, 1.364200, 1.359170, 1.355145,
1.353125, and 1.344070, respectively. Specific refraction and molecular refraction were
calculated using the refractive index and density, and average molecular weight. In this
experiment, the relationships between identities of solution were concluded. The refractive
index of the mixture increases as density increases. The specific and molecular refraction
increases as mole fraction of ethanol increases.

Introduction:

Index of refraction, n, for a liquid or an isotropic solid is the ratio of the phase
velocity of light in vacuum to that of the phase velocity of light in a vacuum to that in the
medium (1). Refractometer is an instrument used to determine the index of refraction of
a liquid. It is a common practice to refer the index of refraction to air (at 1 atm) rather
than to vacuum for reasons of convenience; the index referred to vacuum can be
obtained from that referred to air by multiplying the latter by the index of refraction of air
referred to vacuum, which is 1.00027 (3).

The immersion refractometer is the most precise type of refractometer, which

contains a prism fixed at the end of an optical tube containing an object lens, an
engraved scale reticule, and an eyepiece. This instrument is dipped into a beaker of the
liquid clamped in a water bath for temperature control. A mirror in the bath or below it
reflects into the bottom of the beaker at the requisite angle and with some angular
divergent. This instrument is capable of measuring the refractive index to 0.00003 (3).
Meanwhile, abbe refractometer is the commonly used form of refractometer. It contains
only a few drops of the liquid held by capillary action in a thin space between the
refracting prism and an illuminating prism. The boundary seen in the eyepiece is
adjusted so that it is at the intersection of a pair angle with the normal to the air
interface of the prism. The abbe refractometer is less precise (0.0001) than the
immersion refractometer and requires somewhat less exact temperature control
(0.2oC) (3).

Methodology:

The amount of water required to prepare solutions with 0% to 50% volume

percentages of water with 10% increments, using 10 mL in each proportion were
calculated. Calculations were repeated to find the required volume of ethanol using 10
mL water to make 0% to 40% ethanol with 10 % increments.

In determining the refractive index, abbe refractometer was used. The prism of
the refractometer was cleaned using acetone, distilled water, and cotton. It was
calibrated by putting drops of water in the prism, and taking the reading to correct
adjustment making the boundary of light and dark fields seen in the eye piece intersects
the crosshairs. The temperature was noted.

The refractive index of pure ethanol was determined by putting amount of it in the
prism, and taking the correct adjustment. Same steps were repeated for every solution.
The prism is cleaned before the reading of another solution. The temperature was
noted.

To determine the density of the solution, the dry, empty pycnometer, which was
cleaned using acetone, was weighed together with its thermometer and cap. The
pycnometer was filled with solution, thermometer was placed inside, and cap was
placed in the side arm, and weighed after the spills were wiped out. The difference of
the weighed masses is equal to the mass of the solution. The density of the solution
was calculated by taking the ratio of the mass of the solution and volume labeled on the
pycnometer. The specific refraction (R s) and molecular refraction were computed using
1
Rs= [(n2 1) / (n2+ 2)]( ) and Rm= Rs (Mave).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

The amount of ethanol required for the mixture was calculated using:
 x
vol . percent =
x+10 (100),

where x is the volume of ethanol. 10 mL water was mixed with the calculated amount of
ethanol for every volume percentages needed ranging from 0 to 40% at 10%
increments. Few drops of the mixture were put in the prism of the abbe refractometer to
determine its refractive index. To know the density of the solution, the dry empty
pycnometer was measured together with its thermometer and side arm cap, and
enough solution was poured on it, and weighed again. Mass of the solution is calculated
by taking the difference of the two weighed masses. That is,

masssolution = masspycnometer+solution - massempty pycnometer .

The density of the solution was calculated by taking the ratio of the mass and
volume of the pycnometer labeled on it, which is 10.047mL.

Table 1 shows the summary of the data obtained and calculated from the
experiment. It shows that the mole fraction of ethanol decreases as refractive index,
density, specific refraction and molecular refraction increases.

Table 1. Refractive Index of Water-Ethanol Mixtures

Mixture
Xi of
Water Ethanol Refractive Index Rs Rm Density Xi of Water Ethanol MW(ave)
100% 0% 1.344070 0.215 3.870 0.985 1.000 18.000
90% 10% 1.353125 0.222 4.207 0.975 0.966 0.000 18.950
80% 20% 1.355145 0.228 4.570 0.956 0.927 0.034 20.044
70% 30% 1.359170 0.233 4.970 0.946 0.881 0.072 21.330
60% 40% 1.364200 0.238 5.444 0.936 0.826 0.119 22.874
50% 50% 1.368225 0.243 6.007 0.926 0.760 0.174 24.720
40% 60% 1.371240 0.253 6.828 0.896 0.679 0.240 26.988
30% 70% 1.373260 0.260 7.774 0.876 0.575 0.321 29.900
20% 80% 1.373250 0.269 9.045 0.846 0.442 0.425 33.625
10.70
10% 90% 1.373250 0.276 2 0.826 0.258 0.558 38.780
13.15
0% 100% 1.373255 0.286 6 0.796 0.000 0.742 46.00

There are many practical uses of refractive index in chemical engineering. It

measures the concentration of solute in an aqueous solution and also used to identify a
substance or confirm the purity by measuring the concentration. Knowing the refractive
index could give some information about molecular structure of compounds, determine
the sugar content of solutions and identify the identity of a sample by relating or
comparing the known values to refractive index. It is also used to calculate the focusing
power of lenses, and the dispersive power of prisms.
In the determination of the refractive index, the temperature should be always
noted because refractive index changes with temperature. When temperature
increases, refractive index decreases.

Figure 1 shows the relationship between specific refraction and mole fraction of
water. The equation of the line is y=- 0.0705 x+0.2944 , where x is the mole fraction of
water and y is the specific refractivity. The preciseness of the data is 0.9457. This graph
shows that as mole fraction of water increases, the specific refraction decreases. The
graph is a second order polynomial series of relationship.

Figure 1. Specific Refraction vs. Mole fraction of water

Figure 2 shows the equation of the line y = -9.621x + 13.12, where x is the mole
fraction of water and y is the molar refraction. R, which is the linearity of the line, is
0.9999. The graph shows the molar refraction is inversely proportional to mole fraction
of water. That is, as the mole fraction of water increases, the molar refraction
decreases.
 14.000
12.000 f(x) = - 9.26x + 13.12
R = 1
10.000
8.000
6.000
4.000
2.000
0.000
0.000 0.200 0.400 0.600 0.800 1.000 1.200

Figure 2. Molecular Refractivity vs. Mole fraction of water

Based on the figures shown above, 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.

Specific refractivity and molecular refractivity, which has been determined in this
experiment, would be more useful in determining the variation of a solution in order to
know its contents by comparing it to the true value.

Conclusions:

In this experiment, the refractive index and the density of water and ethanol
solutions were determined. By knowing the density, the specific and molecular refraction
of each solution were also determined upon calculations. The mole fraction was
observed and related to calculated values and gathered data. As seen in the plotted
graph, the refractive index increases as the mole fraction of ethanol decreases.
Moreover, the specific and molecular refraction also increases with increase in mole
fraction of ethanol. Since water has greater refractive index than ethanol, adding up
more of this would increase the refractive index of the solution. The refractive index
increases as density of the mixture increases. The true value of the refractive index of
water at 20o is 1.3330, and the obtained value from our experiment is 1.373 at 28 oC.
Meanwhile, the true value of the refractive index of ethanol at 20 o is 1.36, and the
obtained value is 1.344 at 28 oC. The difference in temperature is 8 oC. The values
obtained are somewhat close to the true values.

References:

1) Davis, Z.; Refractive index definition; 1996-2013

http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/50348/refractive-index]
 2) Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs; Refractive index in
Chemical Engineering; 2012
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/eng99/eng99387.htm

3) Garland, C. W.; Nibler J. W.; Shoemaker D. P.; Experiments in Physical

Chemistry 8th Edition; McGraw-Hill 2009; pp. 613-617.

Appendices:

A. Calculating proportions of water and ethanol

x
(100)
Vol% = x +10

a.) x =10 mL water + 0% ethanol

x=0.0 mL ethanol
b.) 10 mL water + 10% ethanol
x
(100 )
10% = x +10

x= 1.1 mL ethanol
c.) 10 mL water + 20 % ethanol
x
(100)
20% = x +10

x= 2.5 mL ethanol

B. Calculating Density
mass pycnometer wit h mixturemass empty pycnometer
= volume of pycnometer

mass empty pycnometer = 29.2 g

volume pycnometer = 10.047 mL
37.5 g29.2 g
10% ethanol solution: = 10.047 mL = 0.826 g/mL

C. Calculating Mole Fraction

For 90% water + 10 % ethanol :
0.90 x 10.047 mLx 0.985 g /mL 0.10 x 10.047 mLx 0.796 g /mL
nt = 18 g /mol + 46 g /mol

nt = 0.495 + 0.017
nt = 0.512 mol
0.495
xwater= 0.512 = 0.966
D. Calculating the Specific Refraction and Molar Refraction
1
Rs= [(n2 1) / (n2+ 2)] Rm= Rs (Mave)

where: n= refractive index

= density
Mave = Average Molecular weight
Rs = specific refraction
Rm = molecular refraction

For 90% water + 10 % ethanol:

1
Rs= [(1.3732502 1) / (1.3732502+ 2)] 0.826 = 0.276

Rm= 0.276[(0.742x46)+(0.258x18)] = 10.702