CHAPTER 2

FORENSIC CHEMISTRY AND

TOXICOLOGY
REOWIN P. PALATTAO
Instructor
FORENSIC
- This refers to the relation to a court of justice and legal proceedings

CHEMISTRY
- This refers to branch of science that deals with the identification of
the substances of which matter is composed.

FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
- This refers to the branch of chemistry that deals with the application
of chemical principles in the solution of problems that arise in
connection with the administration of justice.
ROLES OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

A.Speedy Investigation
B.Solution of Crimes
CHEMICAL FINDINGS ARE USED IN

A.Convicting the guilty

B.Clearing the innocent
SCOPE OF FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY
A. Chemical side of investigation
B. Analysis of materials leading to
legal proceedings
C. Not only purely chemical
questions but aspects of Forensic
Science.
STAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY
1. Collection or Reception of the Specimen to be Examined.
-In the collection of specimen the following guiding principles must be observed
in the practice of Forensic Chemistry:
A. Sufficiency of the Specimen – Police is usually inclined to be niggardly in taking
samples. This mistake should be avoided.
B. Standard for Comparison – If the evidence in question is found in the presence
of foreign substance, a sample of the foreign substance must be submitted for
analysis.
C. Maintenance of Individuality – each evidence must be collected and preserved
as a separate sample. There must be no mixing or intermingling of unknown to
known.
D. Labelling and Sealing – Evidence will have no value in court in spite of the good
report of the expert if the specimen cannot be identified and possibility of
tampering excluded.
STAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY
2. Actual Examination of Specimen – The first step in the
examination of an article is to scrutinize it carefully and
write down in the laboratory notebook a complete
description of its external appearance including the manner
in which it is secured and particulars of the sealing.
A. Scrutinize, document complete description of external
appearance, manner of collection and secured.
B. Take photographs if possible
C. Weight, measure, record.
STAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY
3. Communication of Result – The results of the
examination conducted will be communicated to the
requesting party in the form of a written report which must
include an enumeration of the articles received for
examination with detailed description of packing, sealing
and labelling, date of receipt and from whom received the
purpose of the examination, the findings and conclusion.
The findings should include a brief but sufficient record of all
significant facts noted during the examination.
STAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY
4. Court Appearance – The written report of the
chemist is usually supplemented at a later date by oral
evidence if the case is brought to court or fiscal’s
office. In court appearance the witness must be
composed and as much as possible avoid being
irritated by upbraiding of the opposite counsel.
 SIX GOLDEN RULES
A. Go Slowly – Good work cannot be buried, therefore
take all the time necessary to make the case
complete, no matter how urgent it may appear or
how pressing others may be of the result; it is
generally possible to adjourn a case if the work
cannot be finished on time.
B. Be thorough – Make a careful and minute
examination of everything do not be satisfied with a
qualitative analysis if a quantitative one be possible;
it always pays to do too much rather than too little
and it is difficult to foresee what will or will not be
required in court.
SIX GOLDEN RULES
C. Take Notes – Keep a full, neat and clear record or
everything seen and done.
D. Consult others – Many cases will lead the expert into
paths with which he is not familiar, and when this
happen he should consult others who are most likely to
know.
E. Use Imagination – It enables and deductions to be
made from slender and incomplete premise is very
useful.
F. Avoid Complicated Theories – The simplest
explanation is usually the right one.
 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOSS
OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
A. Lack of precautions preventing
tampering of specimen.
B. Failure in preservation
C. Failure in transport of specimen
D. Failure in identifying the specimen
E. Improper packing of specimen
 Types of Examination used in
Forensic Chemistry
A. Qualitative Examination
B. Quantitative Examination
 Methods of Analysis in Forensic
Chemistry
A. Wet Method – requires much
time and effort.
B. High Precision Method – this
refers to the utilization of UV
and IR Spectrophometry.
 Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
A. Microscopy – This refers the
technical field of using
microscopes to view samples
& objects that cannot be seen
with our naked eyes.
Marijuana under a microscope
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
B. Photography – (Preservation of
Evidence), this refers to the study concerning
the duplication of images through the action of
light, upon sensitized materials (photographic
paper or film) with the aid of mechanical device
(camera) and its accessories, and the chemical
processes (film developing and printing)
involved therein.
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
C. Invisible Rays – This refers to
the use of invisible spectrum of
light such as UV, IR, X-ray and
etc. for the identification and
evaluation of pieces of evidence.
UV Ray of Semen
Infrared
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
D. Chromatography – This refers to
biophysical technique that enables
the separation, identification, and
purification of the components of a
mixture qualitative and
quantitative analysis.
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
E. Electrophoresis – This refers to
laboratory technique used to separate
DNA, RNA or protein molecules based on
their size and electrical charge. An electric
current is used to move molecules to be
separated thru a gel. Pores in gel work like
a sieve, allowing smaller molecules to
move faster than larger molecules.
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
F. Spectrography – This refers to
the techniques of using a
spectrograph, an optical device
for breaking light down into a
spectrum and recording the
results photographically.
Spectrograph
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
G. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) –This
refers to the a nuclear process used for
determining the concentration of element in a
vast amount of materials. NAA relies on
excitation by neutrons so that the treated
sample emits gamma – rays. It allows the
precise identification and quantification of the
elements, above all of the trace in the sample.
NAA Method
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
H. XRD (X-ray Diffraction) – This refers to a
rapid analytical technique primarily used
for phase identification of a crystalline
material and can provide information on
unit cell dimensions. The analyzed
materials is finely ground, homogenized
and average bulk composition is
determined.
Sample XRD
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
I. DNA typing aka DNA Profiling – This
refers to a laboratory procedure that
detects normal variations in a sample of
DNA. DNA typing is most often used to
establish identity, parentage, family
relationship and appropriate matches for
transplantation of organs and tissues.
DNA Technology in Forensic Science
Techniques used in Forensic
Chemistry
K. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS)
– This refers to an analytical technique that
measures the concentration of element.
Atomic absorption is so sensitive that it can
measure down to parts per billion of a
gram in a sample. The technique makes
use of the wavelengths of light specifically
absorbed by an element.
 Characteristics of Tools and Techniques used
in Forensic Chemistry
A. Sensitivity – “action”
B. Specificity – “individuality”
C. Rapidity – “reaction time”
 Principles use in Forensic Chemistry
A. Law of Individuality – every object, natural or man-made has an
individuality which is NOT duplicated in any other object.
B. Law of Progressive Change – everything changes with the passage
of time.
C. Principle of Comparison – only “likes” can be compared.
D. Principle of Analysis – analysis of two or more sets to understand
any difference.
E. Law of Probability – all identification, definite or indefinite, are
made consciously or unconsciously on the basis of probability.
 Crime Scene Vocabulary
A. Crime Scene – any physical location in which a crime has occurred
or is suspected of having occurred.
Types of Crime Scenes
1. Primary Crime Scene – the original location of the crime or
accident.
2. Secondary Crime Scene – an alternated location, such as where
additional evidence may be found.
B. Suspect – person thought to be capable of committing a crime.
C. Accomplice – second person associated with a committing a crime.
D. Alibi – statement of where a suspect was at the time of a crime.
E. Evidence – is a means, sanctioned by law, of ascertaining in a judicial
proceedings the truth respecting a matter of fact.
Kinds of Evidences
1. Testimonial Evidence – would be any witnessed
accounts of an incident or crime.
2. Physical Evidence – any material items that would
be present on the crime scene or the victims.
Presented in a crime investigation to prove or
disprove the facts of the issue. E.g. DNA, Body itself,
weapon used, pieces of carpet, blood and other
body fluids. Fingerprint or casts of footprints or tire
prints and etc.
3. Trace Evidence – refers evidence that is found at a
crime scene in small but measurable amounts.
Forms of Scientific Evidences
1. Real or Autoptic Evidence – evidence which is
addressed to the senses of the court.
2. Testimonial Evidence – comes form the people, e.g.
testimony of an expert witness in court.
3. Experimental Evidence – an expert witness may be
required to perform certain experiments to prove a
certain matter of fact.
4. Documentary Evidence – Any written evidence
presented by an expert in court.
Basic Forms of Evidences
1. Direct Evidence – that which the senses perceive.
Any fact to which a witness testifies based on what
he saw, heard, smelled, touched or tested.
2. Circumstantial Evidence – a kind of evidence which
seeks to establish a conclusion by inferences from
proved facts. An evidence which established a fact or
circumstance from which the court may infer
another fact at issue.
3. Hearsay Evidence – statement mad by a witness on
the authority of another and not from his own
personal knowledge or observation.
Witness
- On who testifies in court and has personal
knowledge or experience of something. A person
that the suspect who is requested to give
information concerning an incident or person. He
may be a victim, a complainant, an accuser, a
source of information and an observer of an
occurrence. A witness in court may be an ordinary
or expert witness.
Type of Witnesses
1. Ordinary Witness – it refers to one who states fact and my not
express his opinion conclusion. The rules of court require that the
person must have the following qualifications:
a. He must have the organ and power to perceive.
b. The perception gathered by his organ of sense can be
imparted to others.
c. He does not fall in any of the exception provided for the law.
2. Expert Witness – it refers to one who possesses a special skills,
be it in art, trade or science or one who has special knowledge in
matters not generally known to men or ordinary education and
experience. He is person skilled in some art, trade or science to the
extent that the possesses information not within the common
knowledge of man.