Final answer:
The active chemical in psychoactive mushrooms is psilocybin, a substance that affects serotonin receptors and has been used historically in religious rituals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The active chemical in psychoactive mushrooms is psilocybin (4-phosphoryloxyN, N-dimethyltryptamine). These mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, shrooms, boomers, or little smoke, are found in various regions around the world and have been used historically for their hallucinogenic effects during religious ceremonies. Psilocybin is known for causing alterations in mood, thinking, perception, and behavior, similar to the effects of LSD, and operates as an agonist to serotonin receptors in the brain. Psychoactive substances like psilocybin can be ingested in different forms, including raw, dried, mixed with food, or brewed as a tea.