Which two approaches are used by EC/IR II to measure alcohol concentration?

Which two approaches are used by EC/IR II to measure alcohol concentration?

• A. Gas chromatography and Mass spectrometry
• B. Infrared energy absorption and catalytic oxidation
• C. Electrochemical fuel cell and infrared energy absorption
• D. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and infrared emission

Answer: (C)

The EC/IR II relies on two independent, complementary methods to determine breath alcohol concentration: infrared energy absorption and an electrochemical fuel cell. The infrared method shines light through the breath sample and measures how much ethanol absorbs at specific wavelengths; by comparing the absorption to a calibration, the device derives the ethanol concentration. The fuel cell method uses an electrochemical reaction where ethanol in the breath is oxidized at a catalytic electrode, producing a current proportional to the amount of alcohol present. Using both approaches provides redundancy and cross-checking, improving accuracy and reliability. Other methods like lab-based gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or infrared with oxidation alone aren’t how this device operates in the field.

The EC/IR II relies on two independent, complementary methods to determine breath alcohol concentration: infrared energy absorption and an electrochemical fuel cell. The infrared method shines light through the breath sample and measures how much ethanol absorbs at specific wavelengths; by comparing the absorption to a calibration, the device derives the ethanol concentration. The fuel cell method uses an electrochemical reaction where ethanol in the breath is oxidized at a catalytic electrode, producing a current proportional to the amount of alcohol present. Using both approaches provides redundancy and cross-checking, improving accuracy and reliability. Other methods like lab-based gas chromatography/mass spectrometry or infrared with oxidation alone aren’t how this device operates in the field.