Refractive Indices of Known Materials

When light passes through a medium, it bends, and normally at a predictable angle. Refractive index is the measurement of that angle: the ratio of the velocity of light in the air to the velocity of light in a medium through which it passes. Knowing a refractive index can help you (a) identify the medium in a liquid or (b) measure the purity and concentration of a medium in that liquid.

Brix Scale (% Sugar Content)

0% Brix	1.333	15% Brix	1.3557	30% Brix	1.3811	45% Brix	1.4096	60% Brix	1.4418	75% Brix	1.4774
5% Brix	1.3403	20% Brix	1.3639	35% Brix	1.3902	50% Brix	1.42	65% Brix	1.4532	80% Brix	1.4901
10% Brix	1.3479	25% Brix	1.3723	40% Brix	1.3997	55% Brix	1.4307	70% Brix	1.4651	85% Brix	1.5003

Refractive Indices of Common Liquids

Material	Refractive Index	Material	Refractive Index	Material	Refractive Index
Acetaldehyde	1.3316	Dodecane	1.41	Nickel	1.08
Acetic Acid	1.3717	Ethanol	1.36	Nitric Acid	1.397
Acetic Anhydride	1.3904	Ethyl Acetate	1.3722	Nitrobenzene	1.5529
Acetone	1.3588	Ethyl Alcohol	1.3624	Nitromethane	1.3818
Acetonitrile	1.3441	Ethyl Benzene	1.4952	Nitrotoluene(o)	1.5474
Acrylic Acid	1.4224	Ethyl Bromide	1.4239	N-Methylpyrolidone	1.47
Aluminum	1.39	Ethyl Ether	1.3524	Nonane	1.4055
Amyl Acetate	1.4012	Ethylene Dichloride	1.4448	Octane	1.3975
Aniline	1.5863	Ethylene Glycol	1.4627	Oil, vegetable (50° C)	1.47
Beer	1.345	Formamide	1.4453	Pentane	1.3575
Benzaldehyde	1.5463	Formic Acid	1.3714	Perchloroethylene	1.5053
Benzene	1.5011	Freon R-11	1.37	Petroleum Ether	1.365
Benzyl Alcohol	1.5396	Freon R-12	1.29	Phenol	1.5425
Benzylamine	1.5401	Freon R-22	1.26	Platinum	2.33
Bromoaniline (m)	1.626	Furan	1.47	Pronanol(iso)	1.3776
Butyl Acetate	1.3951	Glycerol (Glycerin)	1.4729	Propane	1.34
Butyl Alcohol	1.3993	Glycol	1.4318	Propyl Alcohol (n)	1.3856
Butyl Chloride (n)	1.4021	Gold	0.47	Propyl Bromide	1.4341
Butylene	1.3962	Heptane	1.3876	Propylene	1.36
Carbon Disulfide	1.6295	Hexane	1.3749	Propylene Carbonate	1.421
Carbon Tetrachloride	1.4631	Hexanol	1.4135	Propylene Glycol (100%)	1.433
Carbonated Beverages	1.34 - 1.356	Hydrazine	1.47	Pyridine	1.5102
Chlorine, Liquid	1.385	Hydrogen Chloride	1.256	Silver	1.35
Chlorobenzene	1.5248	Ice	1.309	Styrene	1.5434
Chloroform	1.4464	Isobutyl Alcohol	1.3959	Sulfuric Acid	1.834
Copper	2.43	Iso-Octane	1.3914	Tetrahydrofuran	1.4072
Cranberry Juice (25%)	1.351	Isopentane	1.355	Titanium	2.16
Cycloheptane	1.444	Isopropyl Acetate	1.377	Toluene	1.4969
Cyclohexane	1.4262	Isopropyl Alcohol	1.3772	Toluidine(o)	1.5728
Cyclohexanone	1.4503	Isopropyl Myristate	1.4332	Trichlorofluoroethane	1.36
Cyclopentane	1.4065	Lead Tetraethyl	1.5198	(Freon 113)
Decane	1.41203	Menthol	1.458	Tricholoroethane	1.4377
Decane	1.41	Methyl Alcohol	1.3288	Triethylamine	1.401
Dichlorobenzene (o)	1.5514	Methyl Ethyl Ketone	1.3788	Trifluoroacetic Acid	1.285
Dichloromethane	1.4241	Methyl Iodide	1.5293	Turpentine	1.472
Di-Ethyl Benzene	1.4955	Methyl Isoamyl Ketone	1.407	Turpentine (wood)	1.47
Di-Ethyl Ether	1.3497	Methyl Isobutyl Ketone	1.3957	Water	1.333
Dimethyl Acetamide	1.4384	Methyl n-Propyl Ketone	1.3901	Water (0° C)	1.33346
Dimethyl Benzene	1.4972	Methyl t-Butyl Ether	1.3689	Water (100° C)	1.31766
Dimethyl Sulfoxide	1.4793	Methylacetate	1.3594	Xylene(o)	1.5055
Dimethylaniline	1.5582