Norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate counts among those materials you find both in medical research and manufacturing. This compound ties itself to the broader family of catecholamines. In the human body, norepinephrine keeps the nervous system communicating and controls stress responses. The monohydrate form links this base molecule with tartaric acid and water, which influences its behavior during storage and handling. Many manufacturers prefer using norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate because its property profile fits well with synthesis tasks and analytical work. In the warehouse or on a lab shelf, you mostly see this material as a white to almost colorless solid—its purity and moisture content could tilt the shade one way or another.
Handling norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate starts with recognizing its characteristics. As a crystalline solid, the material often appears in flakes, fine powder, sometimes even as coarse grains. Sources say the forms may shift depending on how the batch dries or gets processed, but density consistently falls near 1.6 g/cm³. No oily feel, no clumping like some salts—just a clean break, the kind you expect from a well-prepared crystalline solid. It rarely absorbs much moisture from the air, helping keep its physical state stable unless exposed to lots of humidity. Under the microscope, crystals can sometimes show needle-like profiles. That shape makes a difference in how it dissolves, since finer particles break up faster when preparing solutions.
Behind the material’s performance, its chemical structure deserves close attention. The molecular formula for norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate reads C13H17NO9. Knowing the arrangement—the norepinephrine base linked to tartaric acid with a single water molecule—gives insight into stability and solubility. Tartaric acid keeps the base stable and less likely to oxidize, which matters for shelf life and pharmaceutical synthesis. The molecule holds a net positive charge at typical pH, boosting its water solubility and influencing absorption rates in both chemical and biological studies.
Specifications reflect consistent effort toward robust quality in manufacturing. The purity hovers upwards of 98%, most batches keep heavy metals below a few ppm, and residual solvents remain tightly restricted. The standard moisture content sits around 5%, aligning with the one water molecule per formula unit. Norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate arrives from vetted raw materials—each batch tested for microbial contamination to meet pharmaceutical needs. The HS Code commonly referenced for international trade is 293299 which covers other nitrogen-function compounds.
With norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate, you encounter several physical forms: solid blocks for bulk transport, flaked material, fine powder well-suited for weighing in the lab, and occasionally compacted pearls in specialized catalogs. Crystalline batches dissolve without much fuss in water or dilute buffers and lend themselves to accurate measurements. Liquid forms only come up after solution preparation, usually with measured volumes per liter ensuring exact concentrations. Stability in solution stays high at cooler temps, especially shielded from light.
Direct experience handling norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate shows it acts as a mild irritant. Gloves, goggles, and lab coats serve as the usual precautions—not because of acute danger, but for preventing skin contact and inhalation of fine dust. Breathing in powder over multiple hours often leads to throat irritation; eye splashes bring stinging and redness. The material doesn’t burn easily and doesn’t react with glassware, but storage in a cool, dry, ventilated space extends its useful life. The Safety Data Sheet puts this compound in the “causes mild harm on contact or ingestion” category, which makes it less hazardous than more volatile reagents but not something to handle carelessly. Disposal runs through chemical waste channels, never poured down drains or mixed with ordinary trash—even trace residues demand correct disposal to prevent ecosystem disruption.
I’ve seen norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate play a vital role in the synthesis of pharmaceutical compounds, particularly those measuring nervous system responses. In university labs, it acts as both a standard and active ingredient for research involving neurotransmitter pathways. For manufacturers, keeping raw material purity high ensures downstream reactions stay reliable, which lowers costs linked to failed batches or reruns. Improvements in packaging—seal-tight jars, foil-wrapped drum liners—help maintain stability, ensuring users get consistent performance right up to the expiration date.
If storage facilities lack ventilation, adding airtight secondary containment cuts down on humidity shifts that might change density or cause caking. Training staff to weigh the compound in a fume hood reduces inhalation risks, especially for new lab members. Standardizing lot testing across batches—checking density, crystal habit, and moisture content with in-house analytics—helps catch odd variations before production staff ever notices them. Investing in glovebox protocols where humidity swings threaten stability pays off quickly, especially in high-volume settings. For smaller labs, rotating inventory ensures no old stock lingers past safe-handling windows.
Working with norepinephrine hydrogen tartrate monohydrate involves balancing chemical know-how, respect for safety, and an ongoing commitment to quality assurance. By understanding its structure, density, and handling risks, both researchers and manufacturers protect their teams and their work process, ensuring reliable results and ongoing safety in every setting.