(IR) Infrared Energy Absorption is specific to what?

(IR) Infrared Energy Absorption is specific to what?

• A. Blood sugar
• B. Carbon dioxide
• C. Nicotine
• D. Mouth alcohol

Answer: (D)

Infrared energy absorption in breath alcohol testing is based on ethanol’s unique absorption pattern in the infrared region. This makes the method specifically sensitive to ethanol in the sample. Ethanol in the mouth (mouth alcohol) can contaminate the sample and be detected by IR absorption just like ethanol from deep lung air, which is why mouth alcohol is a relevant focus when interpreting IR-based readings. The other substances listed—blood sugar, carbon dioxide, and nicotine—do not have the same ethanol-specific infrared signature used by these devices, so infrared energy absorption is not aimed at detecting them in this context.

Infrared energy absorption in breath alcohol testing is based on ethanol’s unique absorption pattern in the infrared region. This makes the method specifically sensitive to ethanol in the sample. Ethanol in the mouth (mouth alcohol) can contaminate the sample and be detected by IR absorption just like ethanol from deep lung air, which is why mouth alcohol is a relevant focus when interpreting IR-based readings. The other substances listed—blood sugar, carbon dioxide, and nicotine—do not have the same ethanol-specific infrared signature used by these devices, so infrared energy absorption is not aimed at detecting them in this context.