The discussion centers on the search for a refractive index table for methanol (CH3OH) in the infrared range of 2-10 microns. A participant suggests that for small concentrations, the refractive index of water could serve as an approximation, but emphasizes the need for data on pure methanol. The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics provides a refractive index value of 1.3288, though it lacks specific frequency information. The importance of frequency dependence in the infrared range is highlighted due to methanol's distinct "fingerprints." A link to a database is shared, but it is noted that the database only contains transmission spectra up to 2.5 microns, which does not meet the user's requirements.
