Drug Analysis Activity

For this section of our forensic studies, we analyzed different types of simulated drugs. We tested with two different simulated drugs: cocaine and LSD. We tested by mixing a small amount of the drug with water and then placing a small drop into the Petri dish. We tested the drops with pH paper strips and the LSD and cocaine reagents.

Research Results:

Cocaine:

1. Chemical Name: Benzoylmethylacgoine

 2. Chemical Formula: C₁₇H₂₁NO₄

 3. pH: 4.5

 4. Biochemical Tests: This drug is detectable in hair for up to 90 days (or until all hairs on head at time of use are fallen), which makes it very easily detected for three months after you ingest the drug! The drug is also found in the bloodstream and urine for five days after the drug is taken.

  

LSD:

1. Chemical Name:  Lysergic acid diethylamide

2. Chemical Formula: C₂₀H₂₅N₃O

3. pH: 4

4. Biochemical Tests: LSD can be found in urine for 24 hours and in the bloodstream for as long as 4 days after the drug is taken. Since LSD is unstable and fragile in heat and light, it must be stored in cool temperatures and dark conditions in order to be detected by drug screening procedures.

Here are the results from our experiment:

Drug	pH	Cocaine Reagent	LSD Reagent
1	Orange/Yellow   pH6	green negative	red negative
2	Blue pH10	blue positive	pink negative
3	Orange   pH3	yellow negative	yellow postitive
4	Green/Yellow pH7	blue positive	red negative
5	Yellow pH7	green negative	red negative
6	Orange pH3	yellow negative	yellow postitive