The Mecke reagent is used as a simple spot-test to presumptively identify alkaloids as well as other compounds. It is composed of a mixture of selenous acid and concentrated sulfuric acid,[1] which is dripped onto the substance being tested.
The United States Department of Justice method for producing the reagent is the addition of 100 mL of concentrated (95–98%) sulfuric acid to 1 g of selenous acid. While sale to the general public is legal, it is not recommended as strong corrosives can cause permanent skin and eye damage and require extensive safety ratings. [2]
| Substance | Color |
|---|---|
| Chlorpromazine | Blackish red |
| Codeine | Very dark bluish green |
| Diacetylmorphine (Heroin) | Deep bluish green |
| DMMA | Dark brown |
| Doxepin | Very dark red |
| Dristan | Light olive brown |
| Exedrine | Dark greyish yellow |
| LSD | Greenish black |
| Mace | Dark greyish olive |
| Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) | Very dark blue |
| Mescaline | Moderate olive |
| Morphine monohydrate | Very dark bluish green |
| Opium | Olive black |
| Oxycodone | Moderate olive |
| Propoxyphene | Deep reddish brown |
| PMMA | Pale olive green[3] |
| PMA | Pale olive green[3] or light green[4] |
| Sugar | Brilliant greenish yellow |
See also[edit]
- Drug checking
- Dille–Koppanyi reagent
- Folin's reagent
- Froehde reagent
- Liebermann reagent
- Mandelin reagent
- Marquis reagent
- Simon's reagent
- Zwikker reagent
References[edit]
- ^ "Mecke Reagent Testing Kit (Red Label)". Dancesafe. Archived from the original on 2012-01-24. Retrieved 2012-01-26.
- ^ a b "Color Test Reagents/Kits for Preliminary Identification of Drugs of Abuse" (PDF). Law Enforcement and Corrections Standards and Testing Program. July 2000. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
- ^ a b EMCDDA (30 Mar 2011). EMCDDA Risk Assessment: Report on the Risk Assessment of PMMA in the Framework of the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs. Dictus Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-3-8433-2695-7. Retrieved 2012-01-25.
- ^ "Clarke's Analysis of Drugs and Poisons". Pharmaceutical Press. 2011. doi:10.1080/00450618.2011.620006. ISBN 978-0-85369-711-4. S2CID 71790993.
External links[edit]