Ask Erowid

Ask a Question


Find an answer:

View By Category

Search Ask Erowid
Search Vaults


Enter a keyword in the search field above to look up a question or answer on a specific topic.

Off-Site Psychoactive Question Resources
  Ask Dr Shulgin

Resources at Erowid
  Plants & Drugs
  Freedom & Law
  Mind & Spirit
  Arts & Sciences
  Library / Bookstore
  What's New
  About Erowid
  .
Can you "freebase" any HCL compound?
Q: Can you "freebase" any HCL compound, or is there something special about cocaine that makes it the only thing you can freebase.

A: Yes, you can freebase any chemical which you have as a hydrochloride salt. This doesn't mean that it will necessarily be smokable however, it just means that the base is no longer bound to an acid molecule. It should be noted that the procedure for turning an HCl salt into a freebase differs depending on what the chemical is.





Many drugs which are not very smokable as HCl salts do become smokeable as freebases, such as DMT or Cocaine, but this isn't a rule that's carved in stone. For instance, Methamphetamine is smokeable in its HCl salt form, and becomes an oil in freebase form, making it less convenient for smoking. So...both freebase and HCl salt forms can be smokeable, depending on the substance. Which form is better for smoking depends on the melting, boiling, and decomposition points of the chemical in question.


Asked By : Jay
Answered By : murple
Published Date : 2 / 8 / 2001
Last Edited Date : 2 / 8 / 2001
Question ID : 2097

Categories: [ Chemistry ]



Ask Erowid v1.7 - Jul, 2005

(content and html © the Vaults of Erowid. Please ask permission before publicly reproducing.)