The Collaborative International Dictionary
Baum'e \Bau`m['e]"\, a. Designating or conforming to either of the scales used by the French chemist Antoine Baum['e] in the graduation of his hydrometers; of or relating to Baum['e]'s scales or hydrometers. There are two Baum['e] hydrometers. One, which is used with liquids heavier than water, sinks to 0[deg] in pure water, and to 15[deg] in a 15 per cent salt solution; the other, for liquids lighter than water, sinks to 0[deg] in a 10 per cent salt solution and to 10[deg] in pure water. In both cases the graduation, based on the distance between these fundamental points, is continued along the stem as far as desired. Note: Since all the degrees on a Baum['e] scale are thus equal in length, while those on a specific-gravity scale grow smaller as the density increases, there is no simple relation between degrees Baum['e] and specific gravity. However, readings on Baum['e]s scale may be approximately reduced to specific gravities by the following formul[ae] (x in each case being the reading on Baum['e]'s scale):
for liquids heavier than water, sp. gr. = 144 [div] (144 - x);
for liquids lighter than water, sp. gr. = 144 [div] (134 + x).