Concept:
Different instruments are designed to measure different physical properties. This question simply asks what property an Abbe refractometer is built to measure — a clue is hidden in its very name.
Step 1: The word "refractometer" comes from refraction, which is the bending of light as it passes from one medium into another. An Abbe refractometer is a classic, easy-to-use instrument that measures exactly this property.
Step 2: Specifically, it measures the refractive index of a liquid sample. The refractive index is a characteristic value for each substance and is used to check identity and purity of liquids in pharmacy.
Step 3: The other properties are measured by different instruments — a polarimeter measures optical rotation, a spectrophotometer measures absorbance, and a conductivity meter measures conductance. So the Abbe refractometer is matched with refractive index.
Answer: Option (2) — Refractive index.