What does the Baume scale measure?

The Baume scale measures specific gravity, which is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water. This scale is particularly useful in industries such as brewing and sugar production because it allows for the quick assessment of the concentration of liquids based on how much heavier or lighter they are than water. The Baume scale utilizes two different measurements for liquids that are lighter than water (with a reading marked in degrees Baume that indicates how much lighter they are) and for liquids that are heavier than water (where the scale indicates how much heavier they are). This makes the Baume scale a valuable tool for understanding the properties of various liquids without directly measuring their densities.