The Baume scale (Be scale) is the density scale of the liquid solution. This density is given in Baumé degrees, which is recorded in the form: Bé or °Be. These degrees correspond approximately to the percentage of the solution of sodium chloride (NaCl) in the water. For distilled water, the density on this scale is 0 °Be. As is known, the density of a liquid varies with temperature, so it is always necessary to indicate at what temperature the density measurement was carried out.
To calculate the density of a liquid (at 15 °C) on this scale, use the following equation:
Where °Be in the denominator are added when the test liquid is less dense than water, and added when the liquid is denser than water.
The name comes from a French chemist and pharmacist, Antoine Baumé, who lived between 1728 and 1804. He built a special device called Baume aerometer to measure the density of liquids.
