Heroin is a danger ous a lkaloid that users inject to get high. The heroin is ob
ID: 908722 • Letter: H
Question
Heroin is a dangerous alkaloid that users inject to get high. The heroin is obtained as a solid, in the structural form. Users combine it with citric acid, or if none is available, lemon juice or vinegar before injection. In order to entice users to exchange dirtyneedles, medical researchers provided single use sachets of citric acid to drug users when they exchanged needles.
Based on the chemistry you have learned, what is the purpose of combining heroin with citric acid, lemon juice, or vinegar? write your answers in complete sentences
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Explanation / Answer
The user combine it with citric acid so that any free OH group devoid of acetyl functionality reacts with the added citric acid and forms heroin drug. The drug heroine is a diacetyl derrivative form of morphine. To be an effective drug both the OH's must be acetylated at the time of injection. The diacetyl derrivative is more souble and has far more better effect.