A breathalyzer measures volume % ethanol in gases exhaled from the lungs. Calibration relates it to...

A breathalyzer measures volume % ethanol in gases exhaled from the lungs. Calibration relates it to volume % ethanol in the bloodstream. Use VLE concepts to develop an approximate relation between the two quantities. Numerous assumptions are required; state and justify them where possible.

Expert Solution

so the basic chemistry behind a breathalyzer is the following redox reaction.

2 Cr2O7^2- + 3 C2H5OH + 16 H+ -> 4 Cr³⁺ + 3 CH₃CO₂ H + 11 H2O.

Cr oxidizes the ethanol in our breath to acetic acid and reduces itself to Cr³⁺ which is green in color. By the help of standard solution of dichromate of a common spectrophotometer, the concentration of ethanol in the breath can be known which is 1.5 times of the concentration of Cr ions reduces.

It is assumed that the concentration of ethanol in breath is directly proportional to the concentration of ethanol in blood. (to ease out the calculations) under the margin of error, which might not be the case as if you have drunk very recently, your breath will have a higher concentration of ethanol than your blood.

Secondly, there are chewing gums and other eatables which have enough amount of ethanol to be detected by breath, though you may not find a proportional amount of ethanol in the blood.

queen_honey_blossom answered 2 years ago

discuss lungs volume

A volume of 2.0 L of air at 37°C is expelled from the lungs into cold...

A volume of 2.0 L of air at 37°C is expelled from the lungs into cold surroundings at 1.3°C. What volume (in L) does the expelled air occupy at this temperature? The pressure and the number of gas particles do not change? The pressure inside a 1.0 L balloon at 25°C was 750 mm Hg. What is the pressure (in mmHg) inside the balloon when it is cooled to −58°C and expands to 3.2 L in volume?

How do lungs work according to Boyle’s law of gases? Explain.

People with the chronic lung disease emphysema cannot exchange gases in the lungs as well as...

People with the chronic lung disease emphysema cannot exchange gases in the lungs as well as healthy people. What, if any, effect will emphysema have on the kidney’s secretion or reabsorption of bicarbonate? Justify your response.

A volume of 1.5 L of air at 36°C is expelled from the lungs into cold surroundings at 6.4°C.

A volume of 1.5 L of air at 36°C is expelled from the lungs into cold surroundings at 6.4°C. What volume does the expelled air occupy at this temperature? The pressure and the number of gas particles do not change.

when the diaphragm relaxes, it moves_____, compressing the lungs and pushing waste gases out. 1. outward...

when the diaphragm relaxes, it moves_____, compressing the lungs and pushing waste gases out. 1. outward 2. inward 3. downward 4. upward 2. How does the vast majority of oxygen travel in the blood? 1. as oxygen associated with hemoglobin 2. as bicarbonate 3. as dissolved oxygen in the plasma 4. as carbaminohemoglobin 3. what occurs when air moves from the atmosphere of high pressure into the lower pressure of the lungs? 1. gas exchange 2. exhalation 3. expiration 4....

Trace blood traveling from the lungs to the myocardium of heart and back to the lungs....

Trace blood traveling from the lungs to the myocardium of heart and back to the lungs. Using numbers, rank the following in the correct order: ______ pulmonary capillaries (to lungs) ______ coronary sinus ______ aorta ______ aortic sinuses ______ pulmonary arteries ______ cardiac veins ______ mitral (bicuspid) valve ______ heart myocardium ______ right and left coronary arteries ______ right atrium ______ aortic semilunar valve ______ tricuspid valve ______ left atrium ______ pulmonary veins (from lungs) ______ right ventricle ______ left...

39. Oxygen diffuses from lungs to blood and carbon dioxide diffuses from blood to lungs

39. Oxygen diffuses from lungs to blood and carbon dioxide diffuses from blood to lungs a) pulmonary ventilation b) external respiration c) transport d) internal respiration 40. Which of the ekg waves represents ventricular depolarization (contraction) a) QRS complex b) P wave c) T wave d) S wave 41. Which of the ekg waves represents ventricular repolarization (recharging) a) QRS complex b) P wave c)T wave d) S wave

1) If the volume of the lungs increases, what happens to the air pressure inside the...

1) If the volume of the lungs increases, what happens to the air pressure inside the lungs? Select one: a. increases twice the amount of the increase in volume b. increases c. remains constant d. increases and possibly damages the lungs e. decreases 2) During exercise, which of the following contract for active exhalation? Select one: a. rectus abdominis and internal intercostal muscles b. pectoralis major and serratus anterior muscles c. diaphragm and internal intercostal muscles d. rectus abdominis and...

A) The total volume of air in Jeffrey’s lungs is 5800 mL. If his IC is...

A) The total volume of air in Jeffrey’s lungs is 5800 mL. If his IC is 3200 and his RV is 1000, calculate his ERV and FRC. B) The total volume of air Sally can inhale after a quiet exhalation is 3400 mL. When Sally is sitting still she inhales 400 mL and there is 2200 mL left in her lungs. Calculate or figure out from the information given in the question the following values TV, TLC, IC, FRC, IRV....

Question