Comparison of THC and Ethyl Alcohol Molecules (IMAGE)
Caption
One reason it is difficult to design a reliable marijuana breathalyzer is that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana, is a large molecule with a complex structure. Ethyl alcohol is more easily measured with a breathalyzer. In these images, carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen atoms are light gray, and oxygen atoms are red. 3-D model based on computer rendering, not experimental data.
Credit
Kelly Irvine/NIST
Usage Restrictions
None
License
Licensed content