What type of light is used in the Intoxilyzer 8000?

The Intoxilyzer 8000 utilizes infrared light for the detection of ethanol in a breath sample. This device operates on the principle that certain molecules, particularly those containing carbon and hydrogen, absorb infrared light at specific wavelengths. Ethanol molecules absorb infrared light effectively in the 3 to 5 micrometer wavelength range.

When a breath sample is introduced into the Intoxilyzer 8000, the device emits infrared light and measures the amount of light that passes through the breath sample. The more alcohol present in the breath, the more the infrared light is absorbed, allowing the device to calculate the concentration of alcohol based on the light attenuation.

This choice is fundamental to the function of the device, as other types of light, such as visible light, ultraviolet light, or X-ray, do not possess the appropriate properties for the efficient detection of ethanol in breath samples. For instance, while ultraviolet light can be used in various types of spectroscopic techniques, it is not suitable for this type of analysis, as ethanol does not effectively absorb UV light in the relevant range. Similarly, X-rays penetrate materials rather than interacting with them in a way that would allow for the measurement of ethanol concentration. Thus, the utilization of infrared light is specifically chosen to