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FAQ #28459

What is a Refractometer?

Related resource areas: Science, Engineering, and Technology for Youth


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A Refractometer is an instrument that uses the light to measure salinity. Light bends (refracts) when it enters water - the saltier the water, the greater the refraction. To use a refractometer a small amount of water is placed on the refractometer lens. By looking into the eyepiece of the refractometer and you will see a numbered scale that indicates the salinity and density of the water sample.

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