Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

True or False: Cocaine has a strong chemical odor.

1. True

2. False

3. It varies by source

4. Only when mixed with other substances

The correct answer is: False

Cocaine is typically described as having little to no distinct chemical odor. It is often encountered in a powder form or as a solid crystalline substance known as "crack" cocaine. While some substances may have specific odors or chemical profiles that can be identified, pure cocaine itself is generally not characterized by a strong smell. This lack of a distinct odor can sometimes make it challenging for law enforcement to detect it based solely on scent. The other options imply certain characteristics about cocaine that may not universally apply. For example, the idea that the odor varies by source suggests that different forms of cocaine would have notable scent variations. However, pure cocaine is relatively odorless. Option suggesting odor presence only when mixed implies that its inherent properties change in compound forms, which does not accurately reflect the nature of cocaine itself. Therefore, the assertion that cocaine has a strong chemical odor is false.