What type of drugs are easily extracted from alkaline solutions?

• A. Neutral drugs like caffeine.
• B. Basic drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine.
• C. Acidic drugs like aspirin.
• D. Lipophilic steroids.

Answer: (B)

When pH is pushed toward the alkaline end, basic drugs shift to their uncharged, unionized form. That neutral form is more lipophilic, so these drugs readily partition into nonpolar organic solvents. That’s why basic drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine are easily extracted from alkaline solutions—they become the free base and move into the organic phase with ease. In contrast, acidic drugs become negatively charged in alkaline conditions and stay in the aqueous phase, making their extraction into organic solvents much less favorable. Neutral compounds like caffeine aren’t driven by this pH-dependent shift in the same predictable way, so the alkaline condition doesn’t give the same reliable extraction advantage.