RedHat
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2015
- Messages
- 91
Heroin in its base form (Heroin No.3) is hydrophobic, which means it's insoluble in water. This is because the molecule is neutral, meaning it has no charge. Water on the other hand is a polar molecule, meaning it has positive and negative parts on it. Before the heroin can dissolve in water, it needs to have a charge that will give it the ability to attract to the charged parts on the water molecules.
This can be done with the help of an acid such as citric or ascorbic acid, which are also polar molecules. When the acid is added into water, it disassociates, which means the hydrogen atoms leave the acid molecule without their electrons (H+) and become hydrogen ions, otherwise known as protons (hence why this process is called protonation). The protons are attracted to the nitrogen atom on the heroin molecules, and when it joins, it gives the heroin molecule a slightly positive charge, which then means its attracted to the parts of the water molecules that are negatively charged.
Some of that is explained in this YouTube video.
The part that I'm a little confused about is how the proton is attracted to the nitrogen atom. Protons are attracted to molecules with negative parts, and this is what makes them a "base". And that seems to make sense, especially since the heroin in this stage is referred to as heroin base. But if it had a negative charge, then one would think that it would be attracted to the positively charged parts of the water molecules.
I know that the heroin molecule has an amine group in it (which is the nitrogen and the three hydrogens attached to it). And according to this, Because the amine has a pair of unbonded electrons, it can attract a hydrogen ion (proton) to it. Does this mean that because the molecule has an amine group, it IS a base? And if its a base with a slightly negative charge, why won't it dissolve in water by bonding to the electropositive parts of the water molecules? Or is the heroin molecule overall a neutral charge, but the nitrogen atom itself is basic? (that seems to be the likely answer)
This can be done with the help of an acid such as citric or ascorbic acid, which are also polar molecules. When the acid is added into water, it disassociates, which means the hydrogen atoms leave the acid molecule without their electrons (H+) and become hydrogen ions, otherwise known as protons (hence why this process is called protonation). The protons are attracted to the nitrogen atom on the heroin molecules, and when it joins, it gives the heroin molecule a slightly positive charge, which then means its attracted to the parts of the water molecules that are negatively charged.
Some of that is explained in this YouTube video.
The part that I'm a little confused about is how the proton is attracted to the nitrogen atom. Protons are attracted to molecules with negative parts, and this is what makes them a "base". And that seems to make sense, especially since the heroin in this stage is referred to as heroin base. But if it had a negative charge, then one would think that it would be attracted to the positively charged parts of the water molecules.
I know that the heroin molecule has an amine group in it (which is the nitrogen and the three hydrogens attached to it). And according to this, Because the amine has a pair of unbonded electrons, it can attract a hydrogen ion (proton) to it. Does this mean that because the molecule has an amine group, it IS a base? And if its a base with a slightly negative charge, why won't it dissolve in water by bonding to the electropositive parts of the water molecules? Or is the heroin molecule overall a neutral charge, but the nitrogen atom itself is basic? (that seems to be the likely answer)