Methylbenzoylecgonine is a chemical compound commonly known as cocaine. The intricate spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable, "meth", is pronounced as "mɛθ". The "yl" in "methyl" is pronounced "ɪl", while "benzoyl" is pronounced "bɛnzoɪl". "Ecgonine" is pronounced "ɛkgənin". And finally, the long string of vowels in "methylbenzoylecgonine" is pronounced as "mɛθəl bɛnzoɪl ɛkgənin". Despite its difficult-to-pronounce name, cocaine remains one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world.
Methylbenzoylecgonine is a chemical compound derived from benzoylecgonine, which is itself a metabolite of the alkaloid cocaine. This compound is formed when a methyl group is attached to the benzoylecgonine molecule. Methylbenzoylecgonine is commonly known as a metabolite of cocaine and is frequently used as a marker in drug tests to indicate recent cocaine usage.
As a chemical substance, methylbenzoylecgonine is a white, crystalline powder that is soluble in water. It has a molecular formula of C17H19NO4 and a molecular weight of approximately 309.34 g/mol. Methylbenzoylecgonine is structurally similar to cocaine, but it lacks the cocaine molecule's characteristic ester group.
In the body, methylbenzoylecgonine is primarily formed during the metabolism of cocaine by various enzymatic reactions. It is typically detected in bodily fluids such as urine, blood, or saliva following cocaine consumption. The presence of methylbenzoylecgonine in these samples serves as a reliable indicator of recent cocaine use.
Due to its chemical characteristics and association with cocaine use, methylbenzoylecgonine has frequently been utilized as a forensic marker in drug testing, particularly in cases involving the detection and monitoring of cocaine abuse. Its detection in urine or other bodily fluids can provide important information for medical professionals, law enforcement agencies, and employers.
Cocaine.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "methylbenzoylecgonine" is a scientific or chemical term that is composed of three main components: "methyl", "benzoyl", and "ecgonine". Let's break down each component:
1. Methyl: This part of the word comes from the chemical group "methyl", which refers to a simple organic compound consisting of three hydrogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom. It is denoted by the symbol "CH₃-".
2. Benzoyl: The term "benzoyl" is derived from "benzoic acid", which is a compound found in many natural products such as fruits and benzoin resin. "Benzoyl" denotes a specific chemical group containing a benzene ring attached to a carbonyl group. It is often represented as "C₆H₅CO-".
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