chem
Chemistry
Student Handout Question & Answers
1. Most drugs are weak acids or weak bases. Is cocaine a weak acid or weak base?
Cocaine is a weak base.
2. A weak acid or base can exist in 2 forms—charged (ionized) or uncharged (unionized). What is the major factor that determines whether the weak acid or base is charged or un- charged? The amount of H+ in comparison to OH-
3. In what chemical form (charged or uncharged) is cocaine snorted? Smoked? Why are they different? Cocaine (unionized) is easily volatilized by high temperatures so that it can be breathed into the lungs. When it is liquid and it has evaporated , the hard leftover of cocaine can be crushed up and heated becoming crack.
4. What kinds of molecules make a cell membrane? Are there charges present on cell mem- branes? The phospholipid bilayer, proteins inside and outside the cell, Cholesterol between some phospholipid chains.
5. In what form (charged or uncharged) must molecules, such as drugs, be to pass through a cell membrane? Drugs can pass through a cell membrane because they dissolve in the hydrophobic core of the membrane.
6. What forces play a role in helping a drug such as cocaine cross a cell membrane?
Forcers like concentration gradient help make the drug cross a cell membrane by helping it move from the side of higher concentration to the side of lower concentration, until an equilibrium is reached (passive diffusion).
7. How does the cocaine get from the blood vessels in the nose to the brain? How does the cocaine get from the blood vessels in the lungs to the brain? Which route is most direct to the brain? Cocaine travels to the body by the capillaries, the drug travels in the oxygenated blood to the heart and then gets pumped throughout the body (organs such as brain, liver and kidneys that have a high blood flow receive blood first) to reach all cells. If you snort the cocaine it is the best route to direct to the brain.
8. In what form (charged or uncharged) must cocaine be
Student Handout Question & Answers
1. Most drugs are weak acids or weak bases. Is cocaine a weak acid or weak base?
Cocaine is a weak base.
2. A weak acid or base can exist in 2 forms—charged (ionized) or uncharged (unionized). What is the major factor that determines whether the weak acid or base is charged or un- charged? The amount of H+ in comparison to OH-
3. In what chemical form (charged or uncharged) is cocaine snorted? Smoked? Why are they different? Cocaine (unionized) is easily volatilized by high temperatures so that it can be breathed into the lungs. When it is liquid and it has evaporated , the hard leftover of cocaine can be crushed up and heated becoming crack.
4. What kinds of molecules make a cell membrane? Are there charges present on cell mem- branes? The phospholipid bilayer, proteins inside and outside the cell, Cholesterol between some phospholipid chains.
5. In what form (charged or uncharged) must molecules, such as drugs, be to pass through a cell membrane? Drugs can pass through a cell membrane because they dissolve in the hydrophobic core of the membrane.
6. What forces play a role in helping a drug such as cocaine cross a cell membrane?
Forcers like concentration gradient help make the drug cross a cell membrane by helping it move from the side of higher concentration to the side of lower concentration, until an equilibrium is reached (passive diffusion).
7. How does the cocaine get from the blood vessels in the nose to the brain? How does the cocaine get from the blood vessels in the lungs to the brain? Which route is most direct to the brain? Cocaine travels to the body by the capillaries, the drug travels in the oxygenated blood to the heart and then gets pumped throughout the body (organs such as brain, liver and kidneys that have a high blood flow receive blood first) to reach all cells. If you snort the cocaine it is the best route to direct to the brain.
8. In what form (charged or uncharged) must cocaine be