Refractometer

A refractometer is a lab device that measures how light is bent when it moves into a sample from the air. It is also used to see how fast light travels through material, or the index of refraction. In a lab setting a refractometer might be used to identify a sample, it’s purity, and according to Sciencing, “determine the concentration of solute (that is, dissolved materials) in a liquid solution.”

In a lab setting a refractometer might be used to measure the specific gravity in a urine sample or the total plasma protein in a blood sample for example.

There are three main types of refractometers. The first type is the portable hand-held machine that is used in the field. In a lab setting, a bench refractometer is typically used. There is also an Abbe refractometers, which is named for it’s inventor and is an optical-mechanical machine. Lastly there are automatic digital refractometers that incorporate software in their design.

• Wikipedia: Refractometer
• Sciencing: Refractometer