Refractive Index of Various Materials

The refractive index is different for different materials and varies with the wavelength of the light concerned. For light of wavelength 589nm emitted from sodium, the refractive index is given below for various materials.

Material

Refractive index

Ice ()

1.309

Fluorite ()

1.434

Polystyrene

1.490

Rock Salt (NaCl)

1.544

Quartz ()

1.544

Zircon ()

1.923

Diamond ()

2.417

Fabulite ()

2.410

Rutile (2)

2.620

Crown Glass

1.52

Light Flint

1.58

Medium Flint

1.62

Dense Flint

1.66

Lanthanum Flint

1.80

Methanol () at 20 Degrees Celsius

1.329

Water ()

1.333

Ethanol ()

1.360

Carbon T|etrachloride ()

1.460

Turpentine

1.472

Glycerine

1.473

Benzene

1.501

Carbon Disulfide ()

1.628

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