Question

a typical glass of wine contains about 18 grams of alcohol. consider a 119-pound woman, with approximately 4 liters (4000 milliliters) of blood, who drinks two glasses of wine. complete parts (a) and (b) below.
a. if all the alcohol were immediately absorbed into her bloodstream, what would her blood alcohol content be?
(\frac{g}{100mathrm{ml}}) (round to two decimal places as needed.)
note that a blood alcohol content (bac) of 0.08g/100ml is the legal driving limit in the u.s.a. bac at or above 0.4g/100ml usually leads to coma or death. explain why it is fortunate that, in reality, the alcohol is not absorbed immediately. choose the correct answer below.
a. it is fortunate that alcohol is not absorbed immediately because although this blood alcohol content is below the legal limit, it will impair brain function.
b. it is fortunate because any amount of alcohol consumption can impair brain function.
c. it is fortunate that alcohol is not absorbed immediately because this is a lethal concentration of alcohol and is far beyond the legal limit.
d. it is fortunate that alcohol is not absorbed immediately because this blood alcohol content is above the legal limit for driving and is a dangerous level of intoxication.

Explanation:

Part (a)

Step1: Calculate total alcohol

Two glasses of wine, each with 18g alcohol, so total alcohol \(= 2\times18 = 36\)g.

Step2: Calculate BAC

Blood volume is 4000 mL. BAC is (alcohol mass / blood volume) per 100 mL. So \(\frac{36}{4000}\times100=\frac{3600}{4000}= 0.9\)g/100mL? Wait, no, wait: Wait, the calculation is (total alcohol in grams) divided by (total blood volume in milliliters) multiplied by 100 to get per 100 mL. So total alcohol is \(2\times18 = 36\)g. Blood volume is 4000 mL. So BAC \(=\frac{36}{4000}\times100=\frac{3600}{4000}= 0.9\)? Wait, no, that can't be. Wait, maybe I miscalculated. Wait, 36 grams in 4000 mL. So per 100 mL: \(\frac{36}{4000}\times100=\frac{36}{40}= 0.9\)g/100mL? Wait, but the legal limit is 0.08g/100mL. Wait, maybe the initial 9 is a typo? Wait, no, let's recalculate. Wait, 18g per glass, two glasses: 36g. Blood is 4000 mL. So BAC is (36g / 4000 mL) 100 mL/100 mL? Wait, no, BAC is grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood. So formula: \(BAC=\frac{\text{Total Alcohol (g)}}{\text{Blood Volume (mL)}}\times100\). So \(BAC=\frac{36}{4000}\times100=\frac{3600}{4000}= 0.9\)g/100mL? Wait, that seems high, but according to the numbers. Wait, maybe the problem has a typo, but following the numbers: 36g in 4000mL. So per 100mL: (36/4000)100 = 0.9. So the answer for part (a) is 0.90? Wait, no, wait, 36 divided by 4000 is 0.009, times 100 is 0.9? Wait, no, 36 divided by 4000: 36 ÷ 4000 = 0.009. Then 0.009 × 100 = 0.9. So yes, 0.90 g/100mL (rounded to two decimal places).

Part (b)

We calculated BAC as 0.9 g/100mL. Legal limit is 0.08 g/100mL, and 0.4 g/100mL is lethal. 0.9 is way above legal limit and dangerous. Let's analyze options:

• Option A: Says BAC is below legal limit, but 0.9 is above, so A wrong.
• Option B: "Any amount" is extreme, not relevant to why immediate absorption is bad here. Wrong.
• Option C: 0.9 is lethal? Wait, 0.4 is coma/death, 0.9 is more, but the option says "lethal concentration"—but let's check D.
• Option D: Says BAC is above legal limit (0.08) and dangerous. 0.9 is above 0.08 and dangerous (way above legal, and above 0.4 which is lethal range). So D is correct.

Answer:

(Part a):
\(0.90\) (in \(\frac{\text{g}}{100\text{mL}}\))