Objective: To detect how different reagents can be used in drug testing
Materials and Methods/Procedures: A clean, dry porcelain spot plate,
toothpicks, drug samples of caffeine, ibuprofen, phenacetin, quinine, and
salicylic acid were obtained, as were reagents Liebermann, sulfuric acid
and ferric chloride. The spot plate was labeled and color changes were
noted after applying individual drugs and reagents in their respected
Results: The immediate results for Liebermann's reagent were: caffeine-
yellow, ibuprofen-orange, phenacetin-dark purple, quinine-light brown,
salicylic acid-reddish brown and an unknown sample-dark orange. After one
minute, the results of Liebermann's reagent were: caffeine-yellow,
ibuprofen-red brown, phenacetin-dark purple, quinine-light brown, salicylic
acid-red brown, and an unknown agent-dark orange. The immediate results
for Sulfuric acid were: caffeine-no change, ibuprofen-irony, phenacetin-
clear, quinine-yellow (green), salicylic acid-no change, and an unknown
sample-no change. After one minute, the results of Sulfuric acid were:
caffeine-tint of red, ibuprofen-tint of pink, phenacetin-clear, quinine-
light yellow, salicylic acid-no change, and an unknown sample-no change.
The immediate results for Ferric chloride were: caffeine-yellow (orange),
ibuprofen-yellow, phenacetin-yellow, quinine-orange, salicylic acid-purple,
and an unknown sample-dark purple. After one minute, the results of Ferric
chloride were: caffeine-yellow (orange), ibuprofen-dark yellow, phenacetin-
very dark yellow, quinine-brown (dark orange), salicylic acid-dark purple,
Discussion: The reagents had an effect on almost all of the drug samples,
with many of them continuing to change color after one minute.
Conclusion: Drug testing can be performed by
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