Reactions of Cocaine
Cocaine has various reactions that occur within our body.
The first one would be how cocaine bind to the receptors
in our brains ones taken in through the body. One of the
main portions of the brain that are most affected by Cocaine
is called the Ventral Tegmental Area or VTA. This area of the
brain is mainly the site that causes the pleasurable affects
of cocaine and the addictive effects. The way cocaine works
is by blocking the removal mechanism of dopamine from
the synapse which leads to an increased amount of dopamine
receptors which causes the euphoria that most people get addicted to.
The first one would be how cocaine bind to the receptors
in our brains ones taken in through the body. One of the
main portions of the brain that are most affected by Cocaine
is called the Ventral Tegmental Area or VTA. This area of the
brain is mainly the site that causes the pleasurable affects
of cocaine and the addictive effects. The way cocaine works
is by blocking the removal mechanism of dopamine from
the synapse which leads to an increased amount of dopamine
receptors which causes the euphoria that most people get addicted to.
A habitual cocaine user can develop problems within their nose, which leads to the next reaction of cocaine. Cocaine can create serious damage to the nose. The nose has a very limited blood supply which is constricted when cocaine is used and can cause vasoconstriction which closes off the blood vessels. Since the vessels are then constricted and the blood supply is cut off and the oxygen level is low it could lead to the septum lining dying off, which leads to the cartilage dying off and the nostrils collapsing and causes a hole in the septum.
A third reaction that could be caused by the use of cocaine is sudden heart attack or stroke. The reason that this is a possibility is because cocaine has a tendency to narrow blood vessels and increase blood pressure and heart rate. The reason this occurs is because the component that usually promotes clotting (vWF) increases and continues to stay elevated for hours after even one single use. This opens a temporary window for heart attack and stroke.
Organic End Groups
When working with the two types of cocaine, crack cocaine free base and cocaine hydrochloride, they both dissolve different due to the compounds they contain and the amine group that is attached to the compound. For instance if you want to dissolve cocaine HCl you would have to stick a hydrogen ion onto
it and then put it in the acid which leads to ions that are much more soluble in water.However if you wanted to dissolve crack cocaine you would have to mix it with acidto cause the reaction. If you make a salt out of the molecule by mixing it with acid, it dissolves well in water which is how Cocaine hydrochloride works. |
Formation Reaction
17C(s,graphite) + 21H(g)+1/2N(g) +2O2(g)--> C17H21NO4 (s) |
Structure
Cocaine is lipid soluble with an octanal partition of 8 to 10 with the pH of 7.4
which means it can easily cross biological membranes. When one or both of
the esters in Cocaine is hydrolized it produces hydrophilic metabolites. Lastly
the nitrogen atom in norococaine and norcocaethylene can undergo oxidation
reactions that produce metabolites usually considered to be minor, however in
some cases they can be produced in large quantities which result in damage to
the organs such as the liver
which means it can easily cross biological membranes. When one or both of
the esters in Cocaine is hydrolized it produces hydrophilic metabolites. Lastly
the nitrogen atom in norococaine and norcocaethylene can undergo oxidation
reactions that produce metabolites usually considered to be minor, however in
some cases they can be produced in large quantities which result in damage to
the organs such as the liver
Limiting Reactants
Hess's Law and Enthalpy
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"How Does Cocaine Produce Its Effects?" How Does Cocaine Produce Its Effects? National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2010. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
Konkol, Richard J., and George D. Olsen. Prenatal Cocaine Exposure. Boca Raton: CRC, 1996. Print.
"Science on Crack: The Chemistry of Illegal Drugs, 1." Puff the Mutant Dragon. N.p., 22 July 2012. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
Zickler, Patrick. "Cocaine’s Effect on Blood Components May Be Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke." HEALTH. The Endowment for Human Development, 2003. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.
Hamilton, Jason. "What Effect Does Cocaine Have on the Nose?" Best ENT Doctors Los Angeles of the Osborne Head Neck Institute RSS. Osborn Head and Neck Institute, 18 Aug. 2014. Web. 08 Oct. 2015.
"How Does Cocaine Produce Its Effects?" How Does Cocaine Produce Its Effects? National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2010. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
Konkol, Richard J., and George D. Olsen. Prenatal Cocaine Exposure. Boca Raton: CRC, 1996. Print.
"Science on Crack: The Chemistry of Illegal Drugs, 1." Puff the Mutant Dragon. N.p., 22 July 2012. Web. 06 Oct. 2015.
Zickler, Patrick. "Cocaine’s Effect on Blood Components May Be Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke." HEALTH. The Endowment for Human Development, 2003. Web. 05 Oct. 2015.