How does a low carb diet motivation a false-positive on an alcohol breathalizer question paper?
But what are the cellular mechanism for this? I can't find any legit resources, but think this would be an interesting topic for an O-Chem presentation.
Thanks!
Answer:
The ethyl alcohol molecule is composed of two carbon, one oxygen and six hydrogen atoms. Because of the mass of the atoms and the strength of the bond between the atoms, it absorb light at a individual energy horizontal. In the case of infrared alcohol breath conducting tests instruments, light next to a wavelength of about 3.39μ is used because it is engrossed by the bond between the two carbon atoms. In reality, the
instruments are measure the vibration of the methyl tail of the alcohol molecule.
A significant problem surrounded by measuring ethyl alcohol near infrared absorption is the presence of several substances on the human breath that have methyl tail such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. Acetone is present in the breath as a break-down product of cooking oil metabolism in the body. Each of these molecules own methyl tails and involve light surrounded by the methyl stretch region and thus can potentially cause a false positive or erroneously dignified breath alcohol reading.
I don't think anything can fool the breathalizer examination. They tried fooling one on Mythbusters and failed.
mate if this is true i,m stale to the pub see ya
Ketones are produced when fatty acids are oxidized (burned for energy). You can find the specifics of fatty acid catabolism on any number of websites. This website is a start. The bottom two molecules, acetoacetate and acetyl-CoA are the ketones.
For an easier to swallow presentation, I would check your school's library for a biochemistry textbook. Look for fatty acerbic metabolism. Specifically, the beta oxidation pathway for breaking down fatty acids.
I don't know if the breathalyzer thing is true. Ketones are formed by the break down of fleshy for energy. Uncontrolled diabetes cause the body to only utilize podginess for energy and cause a condition called "ketoacidosis". The party afflicted with this condition can appear intoxicated, and their breath have a characteristic "fruity" smell.