Question

2. Tissue from a 20 kg coyote was tested for the presence of strychnine.Calculations were then done that determined the coyote had a total of 90 mgof strychnine in its body. Use the LD50 of ne to answer the followingquestion. Had the strychnine reached the level where 50% of 20 kg coyotes wouldbe expected to die from it? Show your work as part of your answer. (Remember1 ppm 1 mg/kg body weight.)

Answer 1

The LD50 of strychnine is 0.5 ppm

From the given, the amount of strychnine in the coyote is
90 mg
The mass of the coyote is
20 kg

Therefore, the concentration of the poison in the animal is
90 mg/20 kg = 4.5ppm

4.5 pmm is way higher than the LD50 of 0.5 pmm

The answer is yes, the strychnine had reached the level where 50% of 20 kg coyotes would be expected to die from it.