 | This article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject. (August 2019) |
In chemistry, a free base (freebase, free-base) is a term for the neutral form of an amine or other Lewis base. The term is used in the pharmaceutical industry in contrast to salt-based formulations like hydrochlorides. The amine is often an alkaloid, such as nicotine, cocaine, morphine, and ephedrine, or derivatives thereof.
Colloquially, "free-basing" also means the treatment of salts or other formulations to convert them into the free base form, especially for recreational drugs.