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Refractometry Ashiq Dungarwalla

Abstract
This document is a report on how to determine the concentration of 3 unknown samples of ethanol and 5 known samples of ethanol. The report will include a detailed procedure of how to accomplish this reaction, and set up the apparatus required.

Aim
To determine the ethanol/water compositions of 3 unknown samples which are A, B and C provided. To plot a graph to achieve the ver accurate compositions values of the 3 samples.

Introduction
!n this e"periment ! am going use a process called refractometr to determine the 3 unknown samples compositions # using known sample such as $%& ethanol / '%& water (w/)*, 3%& ethanol / +%& water ( w/)* , 5%& ethanol / 5%& water ( w/)* , +%& ethanol / 3%& water (w/)* , '%& ethanol / $%& water ( w/)* and water, as these are m known composition solutions. A refractometer measures the e"tent to which light is #ent (i.e. refracted* when it moves from air into a sample and is t picall used to determine the inde" of refraction of a liquid sample. The refractive inde" is a unitless num#er, #etween $.3%%% and $.+%%% for most compounds, and is normall determined to five digit precision. ,ince the inde" of refraction depends on #oth the temperature of the sample and the wavelength of light used these are #oth indicated when reporting the refractive inde". The refractive inde" is commonl determined as part of the determination of liquid samples, in much the same wa that melting points are routinel o#tained to characteri-e solid compounds. !t is also commonl used to. /elp identif or confirm the identit of a sample # comparing its refractive inde" to known values. Assess the purit of a sample # comparing its refractive inde" to the value for the pure su#stance. 0etermine the concentration of a solute in a solution # comparing the solution1s refractive inde" to a standard curve. 2efractive !nde"es are dependant on temperature, therefore in this e"periment, the refractometer will #e set at a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius, and this will remain

the same whilst sampling all liquid samples. The instrument will #e cali#rated to 35 oC using /45C6 grade water in other words pure water.

Hypothesis
The h pothesis is to determine the ethanol/water composition of 3 unknown samples (A, B and C* provided using an instrument called a refractometer. B plotting a graph refractive inde" vs. ethanol/ water this will let me determine me the compositions of the 3 unknown samples.

Experimental plan
The o#7ectives of the h pothesis will #e achieved # carr ing out the refractometer e"periment as accuratel as possi#le # adding the sample to the prism as accuratel as possi#le. ! will add the same amount of drops for each sample ! used and # cleaning the prism after ! have used it will produce relia#le results. ! will use a different pipette for each sample of the concentration of ethanol and water to avoid contamination and to minimise the error. . )hen the instrument is scanning ! will wait for the value of the refractive inde" to sta constant and not write down the values while the figures are still #een calculated. The graph will #e done to ma"imum precision ena#ling me to achieve the accurate results that ! want at the end of the e"periment. ! will repeat the sample testing 3 times so that ! can use the average figure when ! plot m graph # drawing a line from the 8 a"is across the graph until the line meets the line of #est fit. )here the two lines meet, from this point a line can #e drawn verticall down to the " a"is which will allow a concentration reading to #e read.

Procedure and experimental technique


9quipment used in e"periment. )ater #ath. 2efractometer instrument. Test tu#e filled with known water sample. Test tu#e filled with $%& ethanol / '%& water

Test tu#e filled with 3%& ethanol / +%& water Test tu#e filled with 5%& ethanol / 5%& water Test tu#e filled with +%& ethanol / 3%& water Test tu#e filled with '%& ethanol / $%& water

3 unknown samples A, B and C. 4ipettes 4aper towel

Procedure:
:sing a pipette add five drops of /54C water to the prism. ,hut the prism lid gentl and let the instrument scan the water so it is cali#rated.

Clean the prism glass # using the paper towel provided.

;ow using the samples provided, which is $%& ethanol / '%& water (w/)*, add 5 drops of this sample using the pipette to the prism # lifting the prism lid and placing the drops of sample onto the prism surface.

A refractive inde" value will appear on the instrument read out screen. Alwa s use a fresh, clean pipette for each sample to prevent an errors caused # contamination.

<entl lower the prism lid.

Allow the refractive inde" value to sta#ili-e for at least 3%63% seconds #efore taking the reading.

=nce the reading is taken, the sample can #e removed from the prism # lifting the prism lid. )ipe #oth the prism and the prism lid with a paper towel provided.

The instrument is now read for the ne"t sample. 2epeat this technique for each sample 3 times and use fresh samples to get an accurate result.

The refractive inde"es are then to #e plotted on a graph and a line of #est fit is found. The unknown samples refractive inde" line is drawn across till it interacts> the gradient at this point will give the composition of ethanol/water.

Ha ard and ris! analysis"


Before the e"periment there was a #riefing session in which we carried out a C=,// anal sis for the chemicals we used and an precautions we had to undertake to minimise risk. These sheets can #e found at the end of the report ? giving a distinct ha-ard and risk anal sis.

,ome ha-ards and precautions. #hemical Ha ard Precaution )ear chemical splash goggles appropriate gloves /

9thanol

To"ic if swallowed

)ear !rritating to e es / protective respirator s stem / skin clothing /armful if inhaled /ighl flamma#le

@entilate the area. Aeep chemical of working surface area. )ash hands after use.

Data
;omenclature list with units.

BC C degrees Celsius & C percentage composition 2efractive inde" C the ratio of the velocit of light or other radiation into two ad7acent mediums> was taken to 5dp, averaged out in Ddp.

Eormulae

<radient C ( $6 3* / ("$6"3* Average @alue C ( A F B F C * / 3

Results
9thanol/water Concentration )ater $%& ethanol '%& water 3%& ethanol +%& water 5%& ethanol 5%& water +%& ethanol 3%& water '%& ethanol $%& water 2efractive inde" 2eading $ 5dp 35BC $.3335% / $.33'$% / $.353%5 / $.35'+% / $.3H3H% / $.3H3%G 2efractive !nde" 2eading 3 5dp 35BC $.3335% $.33'$% $.3533$ $.35'+% $.3H35G $.3H$+H $.3DH$3 $.35HD' $.3H$DG 2efractive !nde" 2eading 3 5dp 35BC $.33353 $.33'$% $.35$G' $.35'+5 $.3H35' $.3H3$% $.3DH$% $.35HD' $.3H%'3 Average 2efractive !nde" Ddp 35BC $.3335 $.33'$ $.353$ $.35'+ $.3H3H $.3H3% $.3DD' $.3555 $.3H%5

:nknown ,ample $.3DD'% A :nknown ,ample $.35H3H B :nknown ,ample $.3H$33 C

A graph showing the refractive inde" (oC* vs. ethanol (&* concentration is included in the ne"t page. ! worked out the average for each solution> to produce a more accurate result e.g. $%& ethanol / '%& water C $.33'$% F $.33'$% F $.33'$% C $.33'$oC 3 Erom m graph the following concentrations were found to #e. :nknown solution of A C 3%& ethanol

:nknown solution of B C D3& ethanol :nknown solution of C C H3& ethanol The wa ! worked out the concentration (&* for the unknown value was finding out the refractive inde" for the 3 unknown concentrations and then # looking at m #est fit line cali#rated graph ! take the average figures of the refractive inde" and go down to the " a"is which will determine the unknown concentration. =ne error ! came across was> when measuring the refractive inde" of $%& ethanol / '%& water. As ou can see from m graph the line of #est fit does not intersect the point at this inde". ! think that this fact shows that more e"perimental work could have #een done. ! will have to accept the error and will treat it as an anomal .

Discussion and interpretation"


The overall results ! achieved ! thought were ver good. As ou can see from the graph ! plotted the refractive inde" (oC* vs. ethanol (&* concentration with the results ! gained from doing the e"periment which ! thought went ver well. ! onl had $ anomal at $%& ethanol #ut ! #elieve as this was the $ st result ! ma have made an error # . 4ossi#le factors which could have affected the results ! o#tained. ;ot leaving the refractive inde" to settle long enough ;ot taking enough averages 4ossi#le contamination of the 9thanol ;ot cleaning the glass surface well thorough enough.

#onclusions and Recommendations


=verall following the procedure and diagram we managed to work out the unknown concentrations of samples A B and C. This was as #est as we could do it #eing a first time attempt, however we have learned from our mistakes and so can do #etter ne"t time. The e"periment was carried out safel as there was no pro#lem with the equipment or the procedure. Bearing in mind the few pro#lems within the data we collected our aims have #een achieved which we set out earlier. !f ! was to carr out this e"periment again some improvements. Take more readings to give a #etter average

)ould allow the refractometer more time in determining the refractive inde". !n an industr the refractometer would #e on a microscopic scale. The method which ! used in the la# would #e the same process of that an industr would use however the equipment would #e several times more e"pensive and more modern. The prism would #e cali#rated at more precise accurac producing #etter results.

References and Ac!nowledgements


http.//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2efractometer http.//www3.ups.edu/facult /hanson/la#techniques/refractometr /intro.htm

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