A relatively new drug, Valium (or Diazepam) is a depressant drug seen frequently in modern psychopharmacological medication. Diazepam is part of the archetypical drug group benzodiazepines, anxiolytics that have hypnotic or amnesia-inducing effects . The second benzodiazepine isolated by Croatian chemist Leo Sternbach in 1963, Valium quickly became notable for its potency, being two and a half times more potent than its predecessor, chlordiazepoxidine . Valium spearheaded psychotropic medication, improving on the currently used barbiturates and becoming the highest selling pharmaceutical in 1969 - 82 .

During the 1960's and 1970's psychopharmacological medications became prominent in day to day life. These types of medication became known as "Mother's Little Helpers" because of their ability to "help" or "treat" the pressures of motherhood, single-hood, and other womanly problems . Lifestyle drugs, which garner attention in the media, weren’t a huge business, but Valium, from the Latin word for "to be strong and well," proved to be different. Despite its youthfulness, Valium’s potency and relative safety result in frequent usage of the drug to alleviate both common, as well as rarer, nervous ailments people frequently suffer. …show more content…
These crystals are odourless and are often very bitter in taste . Diazepam has a neutral pH of 7, as well as a relatively high melting point of approximately 132°C. The ‘United States Pharmacopeia’ lists Diazepam as ‘practically insoluble’ , though it has been observed to be slightly soluble in water, revealing a slight polarity, as well as being readily soluble in chloroform, confirming the polarity of