Why is red phosphorus used in making meth?
Red phosphorus is combined with elemental iodine (see below) to produce hydriodic acid (HI), which is used to reduce ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to methamphetamine (Salocks and Kaley 2003b).
Is there red phosphorus in meth?
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is issuing this notice to inform individuals and businesses handling red phosphorus, white phosphorus, and hypophosphorous acid that these chemicals are used in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine.
Why is iodine used in meth?
Methamphetamine producers use iodine crystals to produce hydriodic acid, the preferred reagent in the ephedrine/pseudoephedrine reduction method of d-methamphetamine production. A reagent is a chemical used in reactions to convert a precursor into a finished product.
What iodine is in meth?
Iodine, called yodo in Spanish and black in slang terms, is a naturally occurring mineral. Iodine crystals, which are used legally for commercial and medical purposes are also used illegally to produce hydriodic acid, the reagent producing the final product of d-methamphetamine.
Where can you find red phosphorus?
The main food sources of phosphorus are milk and meat – specifically chicken, pork and organ meats. Seafood is also rich in phosphorus. Other high-protein foods, such as beans, lentils and peas, are also good sources. You can get small amounts of phosphorus from whole-grain bread and cereal, nuts, seeds and chocolate.
Is phosphorus legal to own?
It is unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess or distribute red phosphorus, white phosphorus, or hypophosphorous acid, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe, these substances will be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine.
Is iodine a DEA controlled substance?
Iodine crystals became a DEA regulated substance in 1996, and in 2007 the law was expanded to include alcoholic tinctures and aqueous solutions of iodine. The federal DEA now strictly regulates all iodine that exceeds concentrations of 2.2%. Povidone iodine is exempt.
Is red phosphorus illegal in the United States?
To make hydriodic acid, red phosphorus is combined with iodine in the procedure. However, red phosphorus is illegal to import, export, purchase, or sell iodine crystals in the United States if they are used or intended to be used in the production of methamphetamine.
What is red phosphorus?
Red phosphorus is one of the most common allotropes of phosphorus and is considered to be a derivative of the P4 molecule. It exists in an amorphous (non-crystalline) network of phosphorus atoms. It is found to be more stable than white phosphorus (another naturally occurring phosphorus allotrope).
Is iodine classified as a methamphetamine?
The Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control Act of 1996 identifies iodine as a List II chemical. DEA mandates that detailed records be kept for sales of iodine crystals that exceed the threshold of 0.4 kilogram established in 2000.
What is the chemical reaction of iodine with red phosphorus?
• Iodine/red phosphorus. The principal chemicals are ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, iodine, and red phosphorus. The required hydriodic acid in this variation of the hydriodic acid/red phosphorus method is produced by the reaction of iodine in water with red phosphorus.
What is the reaction between ephedrine and methamphetamine?
The (±) mixture of either ephedrine reduces to racemic methamphetamine. The enantiomer and diastereoisomer of ephedrine selected as the precursor dictates what isomer of methamphetamine will be produced. The interesting aspect of the HI/red P ephedrine reduction is that P2P is produced as an impurity in the synthesis.
What is the chemical composition of methamphetamine made from?
The principal chemicals are ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, iodine, and red phosphorus. The required hydriodic acid in this variation of the hydriodic acid/red phosphorus method is produced by the reaction of iodine in water with red phosphorus. This method yields high quality d-methamphetamine.
