-Synodic period is the period of celestial bodies observed on the moving planet(mostly earth)
Sideral period is the period comparing to the fixed stars without motion of the earth involved.
(I will explain the second question with an example, so it's easier to understand)
-For Sideral month for example of the moon it cactually complete one revolution in around 27.3 days.
However, since the earth moves, for us it took some more time to see the moon the same as before (fullmoon to fullmoon) again. That make synodic month of the moon to be around 29.5 days.
As the density of the unknown substance is 0.68g/0.8ml = 0.85g/ml, it is less dense than the maple syrup at 1.33g/ml and will float.
It can be Strontium Iodide
The absolute refractive index is equal to the speed of light of the wave in air divided by the speed of light in the second medium. This means that it is equal to 3 x10^8 / 1.71 x10^8. This means the answer is 1.75