One type of alcohol breathalyzer used by law enforcement involves the following reaction.The amount of ethanol present is determined by a change in color of the solution.What type of reaction is this?
3 CH₃CH₂OH(g) +2 K₂Cr₂O₇(aq) + 8 H₂SO₄(aq) $\rightarrow$ 3 CH₃COOH(aq) + 2 Cr₂(SO₄) ₃(aq) +2 K₂SO₄(aq) +11 H₂O(l)

Question

One type of alcohol breathalyzer used by law enforcement involves the following reaction.The amount of ethanol present is determined by a change in color of the solution.What type of reaction is this?
3 CH₃CH₂OH(g) +2 K₂Cr₂O₇(aq) + 8 H₂SO₄(aq)

\rightarrow

3 CH₃COOH(aq) + 2 Cr₂(SO₄) ₃(aq) +2 K₂SO₄(aq) +11 H₂O(l)

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This reaction involves the oxidation of ethanol to acetic acid and the reduction of chromium(VI) to chromium(III), which is characteristic of an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction.

One Type of Alcohol Breathalyzer Used by Law Enforcement Involves →\rightarrow→

One Type of Alcohol Breathalyzer Used by Law Enforcement Involves $\rightarrow$