In: Chemistry
Please exaplain in detail:
1. what is refractive Index
2. Why is it use in chemistry
3.What does it mean when two substances have the same refractive index?
For example:
If our product (isoamyl acetate) has a RI=1.407 and the true values or RI of isoamyl alcohol is 1.407 and the true value for isoamyl acetate is= 1.400
What does that mean?
Ans. #1. Refractive index of a medium (substance) is defined as the ratio of speed of light in vacuum to its speed in the specified medium.
That is,
RI = (3.6 x 108 m/s) / speed of light in the medium
Since, the speed of light in a medium (substance) is always less than that of vacuum (3.0 x 108 m/s), the value of RI is always greater than 1.0.
#2. All pure substance, if permit transmittance of light through it, like crystals, have a specified value of refractive index. Any deviation from the standard value of RI indicates impurity of the substance.
Because RI of a substance is its intrinsic property, the value of RI can be used to determine identity, purity, and, concertation of a crystal or other substances (if they permit transmittance of light through them).
#3. The same value of RI indicates that the two compounds reduce the speed of light through their medium by same index. Practically, two substance with same RI value can’t be differentiated using a refractometer (a substance that measure RI of a substance).
Given, RI of isoamylacetate = 1.407 ; RI of isoamyl alcohol = 1.400
Using a good-quality refractometer, both the compounds can be differentiated from each other because they have different values of RI (though the difference is small).