Refractometers

A refractometer is an optical device which measures the extent to which light is bent, or retracted, when it travels through different substances. It works on the principle that light moves through different mediums at different velocities. They can be used to measure a liquid such as oil, water-based liquids, gases as well as transparent or translucent solids and determine the index of refraction of liquid samples and fluid samples. There are a variety of refractometers. The first is the traditional handheld device when the sample is placed between a cover plate and measuring prism; a shadow line crosses the scale. Digital refractometers are often preferred as they are compact and the results appear instantly. Laboratory refractometers are used for greater accuracy and to analyse multiple parameters. Inline process refractometers are configured to collect specific statistics. These types are increasingly being replaced by automatic versions which are microprocessor-controlled. Refractometers have a wide number of applications. They can be used in medicine, veterinary science or forensics for the analysis of urine or blood samples. Also, they can be found in agriculture and for testing the salinity of aquariums. The process of brewing beer or winemaking also rely on these devices.