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Shared March 10, 2023
Breathalyzers using potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) as a reagent are commonly known as "breathalyzer tubes." These tubes contain a mixture of potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid, which reacts with the alcohol in the breath sample to produce a color change.
The chemical reaction involved in this type of breathalyzer is an oxidation-reduction reaction, where the alcohol is oxidized to acetic acid and the potassium dichromate is reduced to chromium (III) ions. The overall reaction can be represented as follows:
3 CH3CH2OH + K2Cr2O7 + 4 H2SO4 → 3 CH3COOH + Cr2(SO4)3 + K2SO4 + 7 H2O
In this reaction, the orange-colored potassium dichromate is reduced to green-colored chromium (III) ions, indicating the presence of alcohol in the breath sample. The extent of the color change is proportional to the amount of alcohol present in the breath.
Breathalyzer tubes are not as accurate as fuel cell breathalyzers, but they can provide a quick and inexpensive way to estimate a person's blood alcohol concentration. However, they are not commonly used in law enforcement settings due to their limitations and potential for errors.
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