Final answer:
All the statements provided about alcohol metabolism and effects are true: Alcohol is indeed oxidized in the liver, acts as a depressant on the brain, and is distributed throughout the body's water compartments via the bloodstream.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question asks which statement is false concerning alcohol's effects and metabolism:
- Alcohol is broken down in the liver by oxidation.
- Alcohol can be considered a brain depressant.
- Alcohol is distributed nearly evenly throughout water portions of the body by blood.
All the given statements are true: alcohol is broken down in the liver primarily via the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, which oxidizes alcohol to acetaldehyde. This acetaldehyde is further metabolized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase to acetate, a non-toxic molecule. Indeed, alcohol can be considered a brain depressant as it impacts the nervous system, leading to decreased alertness, reaction time, and behavioral control. Alcohol is distributed in the water portions of the body, which includes blood circulation and eventually reaches equilibrium throughout the body's water compartments.
Therefore, none of the statements provided in the question is false.