Experiment #12

Color Tests for Explosives and Explosive Residues

I. Objective
Learn how to presumptively identify explosives and explosive residues through the use of
color tests.

II. Apparatus/Materials
Beaker (80 ml), evaporating dish and medicine dropper
Reference standards: Black Powder or Gunpowder, Potassium Nitrate, Sodium Nitrate,
Potassium Chlorate, Nitrocellulose, Nitroglycerin, Cyclonite, Penta-erythritol Tetranitrate
(PETN),Trinitrotoluene(TNT)

III. Procedure
1. Griess Test
1.1. Dissolve the questioned sample in three milliliters of acetone.
1.2. Pour the acetone solution to an evaporating dish and let it air dry.
1.3. Add one drop of the test reagent to the dried sample extract.
1.4. Record and illustrate your observations.
2. Diphenylamine Test
2.1. Dissolve the questioned sample in three milliliters of acetone.
2.2. Pour the acetone solution to an evaporating dish and let it air dry.
 2.3. Add one drop of the test reagent to the dried sample extract.
2.4. Record and illustrate your observations.

IV. Observation
Data and Results
Color Reactions of Explosives
Explosive Substance Griess Test Diphenylamine Test
Black Powder or Gunpowder
Potassium Nitrate
Sodium Nitrate
Potassium Chlorate
Nitrocellulose
Nitroglycerin
Cyclonite(C-4)
Penta-erythritol Tetranitrate
(PETN)
Trinitrotoluene (TNT)

V. Post Laboratory Discussion

Guide Questions
1. Where do you usually find explosive residues after an explosion?

2. How are the pieces of physical evidence containing explosive residues collected?

3. What chemical reagent is usually used to extract the explosive particles adhering on the surface
of the collected bomb fragments and other pieces of physical evidence found at the bomb scene?
4. How do you extract the explosive residues from the collected physical evidence?
5. What is the purpose of using color tests in explosive identification?

6. What colors usually result when an explosive material is treated with:

6.1. Griess Test Reagent

6.2. Diphenyl Amine Test Reagent

7. Is color test for explosive substances a reliable test?

8. How will you get a conclusive result in the examination of explosive substances?

9. What are some of the analytical techniques that are employed to obtain a specific and a reliable
result?

10. What is an explosive?

11. Differentiate between high and low explosives?

12. Give examples of high explosives.

13. What is the difference between Nitroglycerine and smokeless powder?

14. What is the composition of a firecracker?

15. How is a black powder differentiated from a smokeless powder in terms of its composition?
Which burns or detonates faster?
16. Why is it necessary for a bomb expert to enter first, the bomb scene, before anyone is
allowed to enter and collect explosive residues?

VI. Conclusion

VII. Illustration

VIII. Documentation