Refractive Index of Common Ethers
The refractive index of ethers generally falls within the range of 1.35 to 1.50, depending on the specific type of ether and its molecular structure. The following table provides a curated list of refractive index values for various ethers measured at wavelength (λ) of 589 nm.
| Temperature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dimethyl Ether (C2H6O) | 25 | 1.2984 |
| Diethyl Ether (C4H10O) | 20 | 1.3526 |
| Methoxypropane (C4H10O) | 25 | 1.3544 |
| Ethyl Propyl Ether (C5H12O) | 25 | 1.3660 |
| Methyl tert-butyl ether (C5H12O) | 25 | 1.3663 |
| Tetrahydrofuran (C4H8O) | 20 | 1.405 |
| Dioxane (C4H8O2) | 20 | 1.4224 |
| Anisole (C7H8O) | 20 | 1.5179 |
| Dipropyl ether (C6H14O) | 20 | 1.3807 |
| Dibutyl ether (C8H18O) | 20 | 1.3992 |
| Dipentyl ether (C10H22O) | 20 | 1.4119 |
| Dioctyl ether (C16H34O) | 25 | 1.4305 |
| Dicyclohexyl ether (C12H22O) | 25 | 1.4741 |
| Methoxyethane (C3H8O) | 4 | 1.3420 |
| 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (C4H10O2) | 25 | 1.3781 |
| Vinyl ether (C4H6O) | 20 | 1.3989 |
| Phenetole (C8H10O) | 20 | 1.5076 |
| Diphenyl ether (C12H10O) | 25 | 1.5787 |
| Tetrahydropyran (C5H10O) | 25 | 1.4200 |
| 1,3-Dithiane (C4H8S2) | 25 | 1.5981 |
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) Yaws, Carl L. The Yaws Handbook of Physical Properties for Hydrocarbons and Chemicals. Netherlands: Elsevier Science, 2015. 4) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).