How Forensic Science Uses Chemistry
What is Forensic Science? Forensic science is also known as criminalistics and is the application of science to criminal laws and civil laws but mainly focuses on criminal investigation. Chemistry is also a close friend used while looking for evidence and such.
Chemical Reactions:
Household Cleaners:
Analyzing Drugs:
Concentrations and Units:
References:
https://ifflab.org/the-importance-of-forensic-science-in-criminal-investigations-and-justice/
The Importance of Forensic Science in Criminal Investigations and Justice
https://ifflab.org/the-importance-of-forensic-science-in-criminal-investigations-and-justice/
Forensic Soil Analysis - Crime Museum
https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/forensic-investigation/forensic-soil-analysis/
https://sciencing.com/chemicals-used-forensic-science-6865961.html
Even though this presentation has boiled down a few key points, there are many, many other ways chemistry is used in forensic science. It is so fascinating to see how these two topics intertwine with each other!
When trying to uncover evidence, many times they will use everyday household cleaners to clean surfaces for preparedness of observing the samples.
Samples such as powders, liquids, or stains are analyzed by forensic drug chemists to determine the chemical identity or characteristics of the sample.
evidence submitted for a drug case has to have a characteristic, compound, or a mixture of compounds related to the illegal substance.
an example: Cocaine is often cut with things such as caffeine or lidocaine. A chemist will have to separate and compare to the reference material.
There are also different kinds of tests used. One example of a test is presumptive testing which is used to indicate if the substance is present or not based on the color changing or not.
In the process of uncovering evidence such as fingerprints or DNA-related samples, they will use certain chemicals that will have reactions to determine the DNA of the sample or...
Many time when measuring samples of evidence different universal concentration units and measurements will be used
A type of analyses that is often used is a soil analysis. The compare soil to a finger print because every soil is made of unique properties that can be used as identification markers.
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For these anaylisis they need to have certain concentrations of the soil.
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Before they start testing for anything they have to clean down their surfaces to make sure they do not get any mixed up results.
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Common household cleaners used are hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, bleach, and some types of acids.
Finger Printing Chemicals: To reveal finger prints and identify them they typically use 4 different types of chemicals which include iodine, cyanoacrylate, silver nitrate and ninhydrin
These chemicals react with oil and sweat and then make the finger prints appear and change color.
Other chemicals that they use to uncover finger prints are diazafluoren 1, or DFO-1; rhodamine; ardrox; sudan black; thenoyl europium chelate, or TEC; and acid fushin. These chemicals help develop finger prints or reveal the to be visable.