alkoholimõõtmise

Alkoholi mõõtmine refers to the process and methods used to determine the concentration of alcohol in a substance, typically in a liquid or in the breath. This is crucial for various applications, including legal enforcement, medical diagnosis, industrial quality control, and scientific research. The most common form of alcohol measured is ethanol, the psychoactive ingredient in alcoholic beverages.

In legal contexts, particularly regarding driving under the influence, breathalyzers are widely used. These devices analyze a sample of a person's exhaled breath to estimate their blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The principle behind breathalyzers is that alcohol in the bloodstream is transferred to the lungs and then exhaled. Different types of breathalyzer technology exist, including infrared spectroscopy and fuel cell sensors, each with varying levels of accuracy and reliability.

For beverages, alcohol content is often expressed as alcohol by volume (ABV) or alcohol by weight (ABW). ABV is the most common measurement and indicates the percentage of a liquid's volume that is pure alcohol at 20 degrees Celsius. This is typically determined using a hydrometer, also known as an alcoholmeter, which measures the specific gravity of the liquid. Specialized instruments like digital densimeters or even laboratory techniques like gas chromatography can also be employed for precise alcohol content analysis in various products. The accurate measurement of alcohol is essential for consumer safety, product labeling, and regulatory compliance.