Acidified potassium dichromate (VI) can be used to detect the presence of ethanol vapour in the breath of a person who consumed alcohol. A colour change from orange to green is observed if ethanol is present.
O. Miller, Content Optimization Executive, Studied Journalism and Psychology, Austin,Texas
Answered May 10, 2019
A reducing agent. Ethanol becomes a reducing agent when makes it contact with acidified potassium dichromate (VI). Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol that makes people drunk when consumed beyond the limit. Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited by law as the life of the driver, and the civilians could be in great danger.
That is why police officers use an alcohol test to drivers are suspicious in drunk driving. They use a solution containing acidified potassium dichromate (VI) that when a (drunk) driver breathes into it, it will turn green from an orange color. It shows that the ethanol reduced the number dichromate (VI) ions to chromium (III) ions indicating a large amount of ethanol is present.