Final answer:
A BAC of .08 represents 0.08% of your blood being composed of alcohol, which is legally considered intoxication in many places. BAC is measured in volume by volume percentage, indicating how much alcohol is in the bloodstream relative to the total blood volume.
Step-by-step explanation:
A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 indicates that 0.08% of your blood is alcohol. This is the legal limit for intoxication in many places, meaning that having a BAC at or above this level can render you legally incapable of performing tasks such as driving. In terms of the volume ratio, it means that for every 10,000 parts of blood, there are 8 parts of alcohol.
Understanding BAC
BAC is a measure used to denote the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. A commonly used example for understanding BAC is through volume by volume percentage (v/v%). For instance, if the given concentration is 5% v/v alcohol, this means that there are 5 mL of alcohol in every 100 mL solution.
The different levels of BAC can have varying effects on the body and can range from mild impairment to serious health risks. This is because factors such as age, sex, weight, and health condition can influence how alcohol is metabolized in the body. The liver is primarily responsible for the metabolism of alcohol, handling up to 85%-98% of ethanol in the circulatory system.