OK I go to a high school in Florida and I have a science fair project due in a week, but because I'm kinda lame when it comes to school I figured this would be an opportunity to learn something interesting about some type of psychoactive chemical. I mean I am in 11th grade so it can't be like some crazy chemical synthesis, and it can't be illegal, but I'm sure some one has an interesting idea. Especially after reading the interview in high times with Sasha Shulgin I've become very interested in this type of chemistry and chemistry in general, so any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated. Thank you a bunch.
How about a simple alkaloid extraction from plant material? A good, simple, and legal one would be caffeine from coffee or tea, and the basic procedure could be used for other more interesting compounds down the line. If you want to expand upon the basics, how about an analysis of the caffeine content of different types of beverages? There is a thread farther down this forum concerning this procedure, with links to writeups, etc. This is pretty standard first year college chem lab fare, so it shouldn't be TOO difficult for a bright HS student to handle....
Okay thanks for the help. I've started looking into this procedure and it seems very possible, but will I have access to sodium carbonate, dichloromethane, and methylene chloride?
Sodium carbonate is easily available in most school chemistry labs. Also sold in grocery stores as "washing soda", with laundry detergents and such. Dichloromethane and methylene chloride are different names for the same chemical. If your school lab doesn't have any, it can be ordered with no questions asked from any chemical supplier, and can also be obtained through plastics suppliers. It is used for gluing acrylic plastics, and is sold under the brand name "Rez-N-Bond", among others. It is also the main ingredient in some paint strippers (not the newer "eco-friendly" ones), and could be distilled out if you can't get some through other means. Working with this chemical requires good ventilation, as it is somewhat toxic, and evaporates easily.
