A breathalyzer machine refers to a device used to estimate the content of alcohol in the blood using a breath sample. The invention of this device dates as back as 1874. Back then, there were only observations of the possibility of detecting the presence of alcohol in the blood stream using breath. The observations were built onto until the device was first invented by a chemist in Chicago in 1927.
However, the Chicago chemist cannot be termed as the inventor of the gadget because there were earlier works about the same. Presently there are many models of this equipment though the mode of functioning remains unchanged across all. The person being investigated is required to breath into the breath analyzer. The device has a cathode and an anode terminal.
Any amount of ethanol contained in the breath is oxidized to form acetic acid at the anode terminal. At the cathode terminal, atmospheric oxygen present in the breath is reduced. The overall reaction that takes place in the entire process is the oxidation of ethanol into water and acetic acid. The reaction generates an electric current, which is measured by a microprocessor.
The reading of produced electric current is indicated as an approximation of (BAC) blood alcohol content by the alcosensors. The displayed value gets represented in terms of quantity of alcohol percentage per given air volume. The correctness of contemporary devices is very reliable and high. Chromium trioxide is the most used oxidizing agent in most gadgets.
There are two main technologies or versions of breath analyzers in the market presently. The first version is known as the desktop analyzer, which in general uses electro-chemical fuel cell or infrared spectro-photometer technology or a combination of the two. Hand-held versions of this gadget are produced basing on electrochemical fuel cell technology.
Breatherlyser machines are used in many fields on a private or public scale. Law enforcement officers in many states use the device on highways to catch up with people who drive under the influence of alcohol. The device provides a non-invasive way of determining if one has alcohol in their body. The outcome of the test is presented in court as evidence against people who break the law about driving under influence. One is only arrested when the specified level of alcohol content in blood is exceeded.
The price for a breathaliser equipment depends on its make and quality. The models used by law enforcement officers are very expensive because they use expensive technology. The price however matches their high level of sensitivity, reliability, and accuracy. There are devices that are used by individuals and companies too. These ones mainly use semiconductor based technology, which is less reliable, less accurate, and cheap.
These devices are certified and standardized by different organizations in different nations. For instance in the United States, Food and Drug Administration authority ensures that the quality of the devices sold to the public is high. A breathalyzer machine being available on the market does not imply that it is accurate. As such, results from devices that are built around semi-conductor technology are not utilized in US courts as evidence.
However, the Chicago chemist cannot be termed as the inventor of the gadget because there were earlier works about the same. Presently there are many models of this equipment though the mode of functioning remains unchanged across all. The person being investigated is required to breath into the breath analyzer. The device has a cathode and an anode terminal.
Any amount of ethanol contained in the breath is oxidized to form acetic acid at the anode terminal. At the cathode terminal, atmospheric oxygen present in the breath is reduced. The overall reaction that takes place in the entire process is the oxidation of ethanol into water and acetic acid. The reaction generates an electric current, which is measured by a microprocessor.
The reading of produced electric current is indicated as an approximation of (BAC) blood alcohol content by the alcosensors. The displayed value gets represented in terms of quantity of alcohol percentage per given air volume. The correctness of contemporary devices is very reliable and high. Chromium trioxide is the most used oxidizing agent in most gadgets.
There are two main technologies or versions of breath analyzers in the market presently. The first version is known as the desktop analyzer, which in general uses electro-chemical fuel cell or infrared spectro-photometer technology or a combination of the two. Hand-held versions of this gadget are produced basing on electrochemical fuel cell technology.
Breatherlyser machines are used in many fields on a private or public scale. Law enforcement officers in many states use the device on highways to catch up with people who drive under the influence of alcohol. The device provides a non-invasive way of determining if one has alcohol in their body. The outcome of the test is presented in court as evidence against people who break the law about driving under influence. One is only arrested when the specified level of alcohol content in blood is exceeded.
The price for a breathaliser equipment depends on its make and quality. The models used by law enforcement officers are very expensive because they use expensive technology. The price however matches their high level of sensitivity, reliability, and accuracy. There are devices that are used by individuals and companies too. These ones mainly use semiconductor based technology, which is less reliable, less accurate, and cheap.
These devices are certified and standardized by different organizations in different nations. For instance in the United States, Food and Drug Administration authority ensures that the quality of the devices sold to the public is high. A breathalyzer machine being available on the market does not imply that it is accurate. As such, results from devices that are built around semi-conductor technology are not utilized in US courts as evidence.
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