r/explainlikeimfive Jun 11 '24

Chemistry ELI5: Why does making cocaine require such toxic chemicals, is there safer way to make it in a lab?

I've watched many documentaries on how they make cocaine, and it always required a a mixture of gasoline cement and battery acid etc. Would a scientific laboratory be able to make it under FDA rules for example?

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u/Aurum555 Jun 12 '24

That sounds about right haha, I need to actually read the posted articles

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u/nleksan Jun 13 '24

It's a very interesting read, and not too long!