Why is the index of refraction lower for a glucose solution than for a salt solution?

Question

osprey · Answer

because the speed of light is different in the two solutions and it turns out that way ?

mulcahy67 · Answer

What about the 2 solutions changes the speed of light as it travels through them... the chemical structures of NACL and glucose?  I would have expected that since glucose was a larger molecule the index of refraction would have been larger.  Why is it not?

osprey · Answer

you raise a possibly challenging question here. 
By the looks of your most recent posting, this is being asked at quite a high level of technical stuff ?
To risk some more detail, I think that the question involves how an electromagnetic wave drives NaCl ions vs sugar molecules. You're saying that because glucose is larger/more massive, it's more "sluggish" cf NaCl if I read you correctly. So, the speed should be slower in G than in NaCl ?

irishboy123 · Answer

summat to do with polarisation?

osprey · Answer

are you thinking of saccharimeters and the like.