Question

A white powder suspected to be cocaine should be collected?

1) in a clean, dry container.
2) in a tube containing water.
3) in a tube containing ethanol.
4) by picking it up with adhesive tape.
5) None of the above

Answer 1

A white powder suspected to be cocaine should be collected in a clean, dry container to avoid any reactions or changes in the substance as cocaine is soluble in water and other solvents like ethanol.

Step-by-step explanation:

A white powder suspected to be cocaine should be collected in a clean, dry container. It is important to collect the powder in this manner to avoid any chemical reactions or changes in the substance that might occur if it were stored in a container with other substances. For example, cocaine is soluble in water, which means that if it was collected in a tube containing water, it could dissolve and compromise the sample. Similarly, using ethanol, which is also a solvent, could dissolve certain substances and potentially interfere with later analysis. In forensic science, maintaining the integrity of the substance is crucial for accurate testing and legal processes.