Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

Chapter 22 Laboratory: Forensic Chemistry 391

Analyte

Marquis reagent

color change

nitric acid

color change

Ferric chloride

color change

Acetaminophen N/A Brilliant orange yellowDark greenish yellow

Aspirin (powder) Deep red N/A N/A

Baking soda (powder) N/A N/A Deep orange

Benzphetamine HCl Deep reddish brown* N/A N/A

Chlorpromazine HCl Deep purplish red* N/A Very orange

Codeine Very dark purple* Light greenish yellow*N/A

d-Amphetamine HCl

Strong reddish orange to dark

reddish brown* N/A N/A

d-Methamphetamine HCl

Deep reddish orange to dark

reddish brown* N/A N/A

Diacetylmorphine HCl (heroin)Deep purplish red* Pale yellow* N/A

Dimethoxy-meth HCl Moderate olive Very yellow N/A

Doxepin HCl Blackish red Brilliant yellow N/A

Dristan (powder) Dark grayish red Deep orange Moderate purplish blue

Excedrin (powder) Dark red Brilliant orange yellowModerate purplish blue

LSD Olive black Strong brown N/A

Mace (crystals) Moderate yellow Moderate greenish yellowN/A

MDA HCl Black* Light greenish yellowN/A

Meperidine HCl Deep brown N/A N/A

Mescaline HCl Strong orange* Dark red* N/A

Methadone HCl Light yellowish pink N/A N/A

Methylphenidate HCl Moderate orange yellow N/A N/A

Morphine monohydrate Very deep reddish purple*Brilliant orange yellow*Dark green*

Opium (powder) Dark grayish reddish brown*Dark orange yellow*N/A

Oxycodone HCL Pale violet* Brilliant yellow N/A

Propoxyphene HCl Blackish purple N/A N/A

Sugar (crystals) Dark brown N/A N/A

TABLE 22-1: Color changes with Marquis reagent, nitric acid reagent, or ferric chloride reagent (data from NIJ 183258). An asterisk in a
color change column indicates that this is a preferred test for this substance.