Final answer:
To calculate the total mass of alcohol for a BAC of 0.08% for an average adult with 5 liters of blood, multiply the BAC percentage as a decimal (0.0008) by the total volume of blood (5000 mL) to get 4 grams of alcohol.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the total mass of alcohol (ethanol) at a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of 0.08%, we need to know the volume of blood in the person's body. However, for the sake of calculating this example, let's use a standard value of 5 liters (5000 mL) of blood in an average adult human. If a person's BAC is 0.08%, it means that there are 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 mL of blood.
The calculation for the total mass of alcohol can be done as follows:
- First, convert the BAC percentage into a decimal: 0.08% = 0.0008
- Multiply the decimal by the volume of blood: 0.0008 * 5000 mL = 4 grams
Therefore, at a BAC of 0.08%, the total mass of alcohol in the blood would be 4 grams.