Using a variety of laboratory tests, Sarah finds ethylene glycol in the victim\'

Question

Using a variety of laboratory tests, Sarah finds ethylene glycol in the victim's blood. The quantitative tests indicate that the victim had ingested 125 g of ethylene glycol. Sarah determines that the liquid in the glass found at the crime scene was ethylene glycol that had been added to an alcoholic beverage. Ethylene glycol is a clear, sweet-tasting, thick liquid that is odorless and mixes with water. It is easy to obtain since it is used as antifreeze in automobiles and in brake fluid. Because the initial symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning are similar to being intoxicated, the victim is often unaware of its presence.

If ingestion of ethylene glycol occurs, it can cause depression of the central nervous system, cardiovascular damage, and kidney failure. If discovered quickly, hemodialysis may be used to remove ethylene glycol from the blood. A toxic amount of ethylene glycol is 1.5 g of ethylene glycol/kg of body mass. Thus, 75 g could be fatal for a 50-kg (110 lb) person.

Mark determines that a fingerprint on the glass found in the victim's home is match to the victim's husband. This evidence along with the container of antifreeze found in the home led to the arrest and conviction of the husband for poisoning his wife.

A container was found in the home of the victim that contained 120 g of ethylene glycol in 500 g of liquid. How many drinks, each containing 100 g of this liquid, would a 80 kg victim need to consume to reach a toxic level of ethylene glycol?

Express your answer as an integer.

Explanation / Answer

Solution :-

Fatal dose is 1.5 g kg body mass

So the amount needed to 80 kg victim = 1.5 g * 80 kg / 1 kg = 120 g

Each drink = 100 g

120 g ethylene glycol in 500 g liquid

So

500 g liquid / 100 g per drink = 5 drinks

So the person need to take 5 drinks of each 100 g so it reaches to 120 g ethylene glycol

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