Talk:Crack cocaine synthesis

In order for cocaine (in plastic bag at bottom) to be converted to crack, several supplies are needed. Pictured here are baking soda (a commonly used base in making crack) a metal spoon, a tea light, and a cigarette lighter. The spoon is held over the heat source in order to "cook" the cocaine into crack.

Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃, common baking soda) is a base used in the preparation of crack, although other weak bases may substitute for it. The net reaction when using sodium bicarbonate is

Coc-H⁺Cl⁻ + NaHCO₃ → Coc + H₂O + CO₂ + NaCl

With ammonium bicarbonate:

Coc-H⁺Cl⁻ + NH₄HCO₃ → Coc + NH₄Cl (ammonium chloride) + CO₂ + H₂O

With ammonium carbonate:

2(Coc-H⁺Cl⁻) + (NH₄)₂CO₃ → 2 Coc + 2 NH₄Cl + CO₂ + H₂O

Crack cocaine is frequently purchased already in rock form, although it is not uncommon for some users to "wash up" or "cook" powder cocaine into crack themselves. This process is frequently done with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), water, and a spoon. Once mixed and heated, the bicarbonate reacts with the hydrochloride of the powder cocaine, forming free base cocaine and carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) in a reversible acid-base reaction. The heating accelerates the degradation of carbonic acid into carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water. Loss of CO₂ prevents the reaction from reversing back to cocaine hydrochloride. Free base cocaine separates as an oily layer, floating on the top of the now leftover aqueous phase. It is at this point that the oil is picked up rapidly, usually with a pin or long thin object. This pulls the oil up and spins it, allowing air to set and dry the oil, and allows the maker to roll the oil into the rock-like shape.