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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1997
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In the Classroom
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The Thermodynamics of Drunk Driving
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Robert Q. Thompson
Department of Chemistry, Oberlin College, 130 W. Lorain St., Oberlin, OH 44074
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May 1997
Vol. 74 No. 5
p. 532
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| Abstract |
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Chemical and instrumental tests for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) measure the concentration of ethanol in the breath (BrAC), while state DUI laws are described in terms of blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Consequently, accurate and fair conversion from BrAC to BAC is crucial to the judicial process. Theoretical treatment of the water-air-ethanol equilibrium system and the related blood-breath-ethanol system, based on principles from general chemistry and biology, yields an equation relating the ratio of BAC to BrAC to the absolute temperature of the breath, the fraction of water in the blood, and the enthalpy and entropy of vaporization of ethanol from aqueous solution. The model equation predicts an average value for the ratio of 2350+100, not significantly different from reported experimental values. An exponential temperature dependence is predicted and has been confirmed experimentally as well. Biological, chemical, and instrumental variables are described along with their contributions to the overall uncertainty in the value of BrAC/BAC. While the forensic science community uses, and debates, a fixed ratio of 2100, the theoretical model suggests that a value of 1880 should be used to reduce the fraction of false positives to <1%.
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| More Information |
 Citation |
Thompson, Robert Q. J. Chem. Educ. 1997 74 532.
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Keywords |
Introductory/High School Chemistry ,Thermodynamics, Non-major courses, Forensic Chemistry, Public Understanding/Appreciation, Drugs/Pharmaceuticals
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History |
Created:
Last Updated: |
July 28, 1999
June 23, 2005
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| Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues >
1997
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May
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532
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