How Do Sniffing Dogs Detect Narcotics or Explosives

Dogs that can detect narcotics or explosives are in high demand by law enforcement agencies. What chemistry do these dogs know that enables them to reliably aid police in apprehending criminals  

For example, dogs trained to detect cocaine often detect methyl benzoate, 1 a product of the partial decomposition of cocaine when it is exposed to humid air. 2 Note that cocaine (Fig. 13.6.1) has two ester linkages these ester linkages are 

Heroin is often detected by the presence of acetic acid vapors since acetic acid is a normal decomposition product of heroin. 2 jn addition, heroin produced in illegal drug laboratories by treating morphine (see Fig. 13.6.2) with acetic anhy- 

Volatile solvents such as toluene, acetone, benzene, and various amyl- and butyl-alcohols are often present in trace amounts as a consequence of solvent washes during the synthesis of the illegal drugs. The sensitivity of canines to these solvents is often the means by which narcotics are detected. 

As a further example of a dog s ability to discriminate certain solvents, it is believed that dogs searching for the explosive C-4 as a target substance may be detecting the presence of cyclohexanone rather that the explosive itself. For example, cyclohexanone is a volatile solvent used in the purification process for 

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Why are general anesthetics administered as gases See p. 78. How do sniffing dogs detect narcotics or explosives See p. 176. 

Question 13.6 How Do Sniffing Dogs Detect Narcotics or Explosives ... 

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