INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT in Chemistry

TOBACCO & NICOTINE CONTENT

IN CIGARETTES

Done By : PRINCE JEREMIAH M. J

Class : 12th A
INTRODUCTION :
CONTENTS IN A CIGARETTE :
Carcinogens :

A carcinogen is defined as any

substance that can cause or aggravate cancer.
Approximately 70 of the chemicals in cigarettes are
known to cause cancer.2

 Benzene can be found in pesticides and gasoline. It is

present in high levels in cigarette smoke and
accounts for half of all human exposure to this
hazardous chemical.
 Formaldehyde is a chemical that, in liquid form, is
used to preserve dead bodies. In gaseous form, it is
responsible for some of the nose, throat, and eye
irritation smokers experience when breathing in
cigarette smoke.
 Vinyl chloride is a man-made chemical that is used
to make plastics. Smokers are exposed to it through
cigarette filters.
Toxic Metals:

Toxic/heavy metals are metals and metal

compounds that have the potential to harm our health
when absorbed or inhaled. In very small amounts, some

of these metals support life, but when taken in large

amounts, they can become toxic.3

 Arsenic is commonly used in rat poison. Arsenic finds

its way into cigarette smoke through some of the
pesticides that are used in tobacco farming.
 Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that is used in
batteries. Smokers typically have twice as much
cadmium in their bodies as nonsmokers.

Radioactive Toxic Metals :

There are a couple of toxic metals in cigarette smoke that

carry an extra punch of danger for anyone breathing it in
because they are radioactive. Lead-210 (Pb-210) and
polonium-210 (Po-210) are poisonous, radioactive heavy
metals that research has shown to be present in cigarette
smoke.4
Poisons :

Poison is defined as any substance that, when introduced

to a living organism, causes severe physical distress or
death. Science has discovered approximately 250
poisonous gases in cigarette smoke.

 Ammonia compounds are commonly used in cleaning

products and fertilizers. Ammonia is also used to
boost the impact of nicotine on manufactured
cigarettes.
 Carbon monoxide is present in car exhaust and is
lethal in large amounts. Cigarette smoke can contain
high levels of carbon monoxide.
 Hydrogen cyanide was used to kill people in the gas
chambers. It can be found in cigarette smoke.
 Nicotine is a poison used in pesticides and is the
addictive element in cigarettes.

NICOTINE:
Nicotine is an alkaloid found in
theSolanaceae (Nightshade) family. It acts as nicotinic
acetylchlorine receptor agnoist. The biosynthesis takes
place in the roots and the accumulation takes place in
the leaves. It constitues 0.6%-3.0% of the dry weight of
tobacco and present in some edible plants in the range of
2-7 micrograms per kilogram. It also functions as an
anti-herbivore chemical ; therefore it was used as
insecticide in earlier periods.

STATISTICS:
In low doses , an average cigarette yields
1mg of absorbed nicotine. It acts as stimulant in
mammals , while in large amounts (i.e) 30-60mg can be
fatal. According to history nicotine addiction is one of
the most hardest addictions to break.
The nicotine
content in popular Indian brands has increased
drastically over these years . A study found that there is
an average increase of 1.6% per year.
 ANALYSIS OF NICOTINE CONTENT

AIM:
To extract Nicotine Sulphate from different
cigarette samples

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
 250ml Beaker
 Filter Paper
 Seperating Funnel
 China Dish
 Chemical Balance
 Glass Rod

CHEMICALS REQUIRED:
 Calcium Hydroxide [ca(OH)2]
 Kerosene (solvent)
 Concentrated Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4)
PROCEDURE:
1. Collct different samples of cigarettes.
2. Remove the covers and collect the
contents of the cigarettes ond label the
differently.
3. Weigh 1gm of each sample and keep
them in a dry place.

4. Dissolve each sample in 100ml

beakers seperately and stir the with
the help of the glass rod.

5. Filter the solutions after the

contents are fully dissolved. Collect
them differently in different seprating
funnels.

6. Ensure the valve is closed. Pour 2

test tubes of kerosene in each
seperating funnel.
7. Mix the contents vigourously and
leave the contents undisturbed for 2-3
days.

8. 2 layers such that one heavier (at

bottom) and one lighter(at top) are
seperated

9. Open the valve and collect the

heavier layer in a test tube and let the
lighter layer remain in the test tube.

10.Repeat the procss for all the samples

11.Add 10ml of conc. (H2SO4) in each

seperating funnel. Shake the
vigourously and keep them
undisturbed for 1-2 hours.
12. 2 layers are formed such that one
heavier (brown) and one lighter (
almost transparent)

13.Open the valve and collect the

heavier contents in a test tube . Repeat
the process for all the samples and
label them according to the cigarette
from which they were obtained

14.Now transfer the contents to a china

dish. Heat the crystals in water bath
and cool the in cold water and leav
them undisturbed for 2 days.

15.Weigh the crystals

16.Thus the obtained crystals are

Nicotine
RESULT;
Th analysis showed relatively higher
levels of Nicotine in Tobacco Beedi ; as compared to
sample A (Gold Flake) and sample B (Sissors)

S.No Cigarette Sample Quantity on Nicotine

1. Beedi 0.17gm
2. Sample A 0.05gm
3. Sample B 0.06gm

Thank You !