Calculating composition from refractive index?

Question

how can i calculate the composition from refractive index.

my experiment is distillation of ethanol and water.

I have collected the samples and measured the refractive inedx values..

then what to do?????? i have no idea...

can any body please help me????

its my assignment and i need to finish as early as possible...

thanking you.....

Answer 1

hi

plot a graph between r.i vs composition first by taking r.i in Y axis and  composition in x-axis

then calculate the r.i of unknown sample

and get the r.i

so from your graph compare the calculated r.i and take the composition from the graph

Answer 2

HI,

just replied this question, y are you asking it again, any how here is the answer.

you said that you have collected the samples and measured the refractive index values.

Do you also know the composition of these samples?

If yes, plot the refractive index vs composition on a graph paper. take refractive index along x-axis and composition along y-axis.

Now make a solution of unknown composition and findout its refractive index. from the graph, mark the refractive index on the x axis and draw a vertical line so that it touches the curve. now draw a horizontal line from it towards y-axis. the point on the y axis is the unknown concentration.

hope I helped. Bye.