Colour Tests for Precursor Chemicals of Amphetamine-Type Substances The Use of Colour Tests for Distinguishing between Ephedrine-Derivatives

Ephedrine, norephedrine and pseudoephedrine have in recent years been subject to extensive illicit trafficking in many countries of the world. A simple chemical method, based on a combination of three known colour tests, is presented to differentiate these and other related ephedrine derivatives. The underlying chemistry is discussed