In Class Activity: Drug Analysis

For this lab, we were given various simulated drug sample that resembled real drugs and were required to properly identify and label them according to the test. First, we were given “drugs” and was told to dilute them to the point where the substance was mostly dissolved in the mixture. Then we took a small sample of the dilute, tested it with pH paper, and recorded the pH and the color that it displayed. Then we used both LSD and Cocaine reagent that would display a color if the substance was positive for the reagent. For example, the Cocaine reagent would turn blue if the mixture was positive for "Cocaine" and would remain colorless if it was negative. With the LSD, the mixture would turn yellow if the presences of "LSD" were apparent. Out of the six tested substances, three were positive of "Cocaine", two were positive for "LSD" and the last one did not contain either. This lab provided us with the knowledge needed to understand how to test and verify substances as being positive or negative for drugs.
In the picture, the given dilute is positive for "Cocaine", so the indicator turned blue: