Introduction
You bought a fancy amphetamine product and decided to do pollution and admixture testing experiments. Then you open this article and use it as a guide for experimenting. There are list of manipulations with amphetamine product and useful information for home tests.
Amphetamine is obtained as a free base racemate (sum l- and d-isomers). After, the product transform into a salt form by acidification. For this procedure may be used sulfuric, phosphoric or hydrochloric acids to get the corresponding salt. Amphetamine hydrochloride has more pronounced effect because hydrochloric acid residue has less molecular weight.
In the same mass, for example one gram, you will have:
- 0.78 g of amphetamine and 0.23 g hydrochloric acid
- 0.73 g of amphetamine and 0.27 g sulfuric acid
- 0.58 g of amphetamine and 0.42 g phosphoric acid
There is approximately 1.3-fold difference between amphetamine hydrochloride, amphetamine sulfate with amphetamine phosphate, which accounts for the difference between the effects of different amphetamine salts, respectively. In this article «Amphetamine salts» you can find methods for determining your amphetamine salt.
In the same mass, for example one gram, you will have:
- 0.78 g of amphetamine and 0.23 g hydrochloric acid
- 0.73 g of amphetamine and 0.27 g sulfuric acid
- 0.58 g of amphetamine and 0.42 g phosphoric acid
There is approximately 1.3-fold difference between amphetamine hydrochloride, amphetamine sulfate with amphetamine phosphate, which accounts for the difference between the effects of different amphetamine salts, respectively. In this article «Amphetamine salts» you can find methods for determining your amphetamine salt.
Stereoisomers
Dextrorotatory amphetamine (d-amphetamine, dexamphetamine) has a half-life in the body of 9-11 hours, actively affects dopamine receptors and emotional and cognitive effects, such as euphoria, changes in libido, improved cognitive control, including a decrease in reaction time, increased resistance to fatigue and increased muscle strength. And levorotatory (l-amphetamine, levoamphetamine) has a half-life of 11-16 hours, causes impaired cognitive function, muscle tissue destruction, sleep disturbances, tremors in the limbs, sexual dysfunction, and can lead to the development of psychosis (hallucinations and paranoia). Thus, a consumer who has taken a racemate (d, l-amphetamine), for the first few hours, feels the positive effects of dexamphetamine, leveling the negative effects of levamphetamine (the d-isomer is 5-8 times more active than the left one), and after its breakdown remains with the levorotatory isomer and experiences its effects.
Possible side products and adulterant substances
Some substances that can reach the end product and pose a health hazard, such as mercury salts, phenylacetone, 1-phenyl-2-nitropropene, sulfuric/phosphorus/acetic/hydrochloric acids, nitro ethane, 1-phenylpropan-2-one oxime.
In the first place is cheap Caffeine because this substance stimulate CNS with short similar effect as amph. Far after the first place are such nootropics as Cinnarizine and Piracetam. Also, amph. (amphetamine) often can be substituted by a-PVP or Methamphetamine, which have similar stimulation effects. Since unsubstituted benzaldehyde is difficult to obtain, there are substitutions for substituted benzaldehydes, for example 2-fluoro benzaldehyde. Some medications such as noramidopyrine or metamizole sodium may also be added.
In the first place is cheap Caffeine because this substance stimulate CNS with short similar effect as amph. Far after the first place are such nootropics as Cinnarizine and Piracetam. Also, amph. (amphetamine) often can be substituted by a-PVP or Methamphetamine, which have similar stimulation effects. Since unsubstituted benzaldehyde is difficult to obtain, there are substitutions for substituted benzaldehydes, for example 2-fluoro benzaldehyde. Some medications such as noramidopyrine or metamizole sodium may also be added.
Examples of pure amphetamine
All of these amphetamine powders have 95%+ purity approved by GC-MS.
There are examples of dirty amphetamines with different colors.
1. Firstly, you have to provide visual checking of your stuff. If your product has different color from white, It, probably, has some organic or inorganic syntheses side products, which can change color. The color of amphetamine depends on reactions and their quality, which was carried out. White, pearl, beige, yellow, orange, peach, pale pink, pink, grey are the "normal colors" of amphetamine. More colored means a dirtier product. Although amphetamine powder has to be clearly whitish, some sellers invent stories about «special formula or syntheses method», which give unusual paint. If amphetamine is in the hydrochloride salt, it can cause snot (a rather rare case).
What determines the color:
Rose - the product is overoxidized (part of the amphetamine salt, due to the overuse of acid, turned into decomposition products and colored the rest of the powder).
Yellow - the product is not oxidized (due to a lack of acid, not all the base was converted into salt, and its residues colored the rest of the powder).
Red - phenyl nitropropene did not react completely on amalgam, the reaction mixture was alkalized and acidified into salt, giving this color.
Green - mercury salts are contaminated with other metals, which result in color. In addition, it affects the formation of amalgam.
Brown - formation of resins during synthesis.
In general, it should be noted that a chemically pure product should always be white. For example, pharmaceutical amphetamine does not even have a hint. Also, a change in color may not only be an indicator of the correctness of the synthesis performed. Almost all synthesis impurities can be deleted by acid-alkali extraction.
2. Secondary, provide simple experiment with dissolving your product in water. Dissolve 100 mg (100 mg is enough, but more is better) of the amphetamine sample in 10 ml room temperature water. If your sample is dissolving well, it means that, probably, you have quiet pure drug. Important: grind dense lumps of powder before the experiment, small lumps may form in the sediment.
What determines the color:
Rose - the product is overoxidized (part of the amphetamine salt, due to the overuse of acid, turned into decomposition products and colored the rest of the powder).
Yellow - the product is not oxidized (due to a lack of acid, not all the base was converted into salt, and its residues colored the rest of the powder).
Red - phenyl nitropropene did not react completely on amalgam, the reaction mixture was alkalized and acidified into salt, giving this color.
Green - mercury salts are contaminated with other metals, which result in color. In addition, it affects the formation of amalgam.
Brown - formation of resins during synthesis.
In general, it should be noted that a chemically pure product should always be white. For example, pharmaceutical amphetamine does not even have a hint. Also, a change in color may not only be an indicator of the correctness of the synthesis performed. Almost all synthesis impurities can be deleted by acid-alkali extraction.
2. Secondary, provide simple experiment with dissolving your product in water. Dissolve 100 mg (100 mg is enough, but more is better) of the amphetamine sample in 10 ml room temperature water. If your sample is dissolving well, it means that, probably, you have quiet pure drug. Important: grind dense lumps of powder before the experiment, small lumps may form in the sediment.
You have to interpret the results of the dissolution experiment. If your product is completely insoluble or partially dissolves, it could be caused by the addition of caffeine. There are links to simple experiments to determinate caffeine in amphetamine powder by Wagner's reagent and Nitric acid and ammonia solution.
Also, it can be MCC (microcrystalline cellulose), silicon dioxide, inorganic salts (see «Determination of impurity in synthetic PAS»).
3. Thirdly, confirm the compliance of the product with the declared amphetamine by LF tests (drug testing kits). You will receive clear result about your substance and admixtured narcotic substance (if it takes place to be) and these tests help to chpose next step.
4. Fourthly, check pH of the solution. Powder of amphetamine can be polluted by organic powdery acids (ascorbic, citric, etc.), organic powdery bases (Novocaine, Lidocaine, Caffeine, etc.). «Determination of impurity in synthetic PAS» exactly describe method of determination of them.
5. Next, if any pollutants are not found, and you are still doubt in your amphetamine or LF tests reveal admixtured narcotic substance, lead experiments with test reagents. Use «Drugs testing reagents». These methods help to determine kind of admixtures. There are manuals, which are described checking procedures and meaning, where you can find methods of reagent synthesis.
According to data from testing reagent experiments, you may compare and approve result by TLC.
For instance, you have received test result with Marquis reagent, which gave black color. Usually it means that your amph. diluted with MDMA. If the color of the drops changes to yellowish, it means that you, probably, have pure amph. Take TLC plate, polluted sample of amph., real amph. and clear MDMA (if you have), make three spots of substances and elute them, count Rf and compare results with the literature data. If your sample spots will split in two parts, which will have same level of MDMA and real amph., it means that your sample has MDMA contamination. If your s ample does not have spot in real amph. level, it means that you have MAMA with something as amphetamine, a substance with similar physical and organoleptic properties (methamphetamine).
3. Thirdly, confirm the compliance of the product with the declared amphetamine by LF tests (drug testing kits). You will receive clear result about your substance and admixtured narcotic substance (if it takes place to be) and these tests help to chpose next step.
4. Fourthly, check pH of the solution. Powder of amphetamine can be polluted by organic powdery acids (ascorbic, citric, etc.), organic powdery bases (Novocaine, Lidocaine, Caffeine, etc.). «Determination of impurity in synthetic PAS» exactly describe method of determination of them.
5. Next, if any pollutants are not found, and you are still doubt in your amphetamine or LF tests reveal admixtured narcotic substance, lead experiments with test reagents. Use «Drugs testing reagents». These methods help to determine kind of admixtures. There are manuals, which are described checking procedures and meaning, where you can find methods of reagent synthesis.
According to data from testing reagent experiments, you may compare and approve result by TLC.
For instance, you have received test result with Marquis reagent, which gave black color. Usually it means that your amph. diluted with MDMA. If the color of the drops changes to yellowish, it means that you, probably, have pure amph. Take TLC plate, polluted sample of amph., real amph. and clear MDMA (if you have), make three spots of substances and elute them, count Rf and compare results with the literature data. If your sample spots will split in two parts, which will have same level of MDMA and real amph., it means that your sample has MDMA contamination. If your s ample does not have spot in real amph. level, it means that you have MAMA with something as amphetamine, a substance with similar physical and organoleptic properties (methamphetamine).
6. In addition to determination of admixture, researcher may lead an experiment «Determination of amphetamine purity at home conditions» to measure percentage of amphetamine in a powder. However, take into account that other primary amine substances will be counted in this powder as well.
Conclusion
Melting point verification can be added to the second step to confirm quality compliance and to determine the degree of impurity content.
This manual allows identifying degree of impurity level, determinate contamination substances and approve results by different methods. Besides, you can measure the amount of amphetamine in your sample.
This manual allows identifying degree of impurity level, determinate contamination substances and approve results by different methods. Besides, you can measure the amount of amphetamine in your sample.
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