why does the chemistry teacher's breath test show positive even after eating gum?

[@calebm8985]

I'm not exactly sure what's happening in the video, I don't remember doing this experiment when I was in high school. Can someone explain what's happening? :)

[@johnmoore8599]

They aren't exactly explaining it. Evidently, it is the same concept as a breath analysis for drunk driving. I think they have a dye in a reagent. The sorbitol in the gum is an alcohol, so when he discharges his breath into the reagent, the pH changes and the dye becomes colorless. So, they are just pointing out that chewing gum can create a false positive test on an alcohol breath test.