Breathalyzer
Breathalyzer
Breathalyzer (/brɛθˈaɪlɪzər/), also known as a breath alcohol tester, is a device used to estimate the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) from a breath sample.
Etymology
The term "Breathalyzer" is a portmanteau of the words "breath" and "analyzer". It was first registered as a trademark on May 13, 1954, by Robert Frank Borkenstein, who invented the device.
Usage
Breathalyzers are commonly used by law enforcement agencies for field sobriety tests. The device provides an estimate of a subject's BAC, which can be used to determine if a person is legally intoxicated and unfit to operate a motor vehicle.
Principle
The Breathalyzer works on the principle of infrared spectroscopy. When a person blows into the device, any alcohol in their breath is oxidized to acetic acid at the anode, which produces an electric current. This current is then measured and used to calculate the person's BAC.
Related Terms
- Blood Alcohol Content
- Field Sobriety Test
- Infrared Spectroscopy
- Law Enforcement
- Portmanteau
- Robert Frank Borkenstein
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Breathalyzer
- Wikipedia's article - Breathalyzer
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