Basics of Forensic

Chemistry
-Anudevi.S.D (Assistant professor)
Today’s Class

• Introduction to chemistry,
• Forensic Chemistry
• Scientific Investigation
• Forensic investigation
• Properties of Matter
• Physical Properties
• Chemical properties
• Types of cases/exhibits received for
analysis
• Summary
• Q&A
Introduction of Chemistry
• Chemistry is the study of matter—what it consists of, what its
properties are, and how it changes.
• Forensic chemistry is a specialized area of forensic science involving
the application of chemical principles and techniques to the field of
forensic investigation.
• The role of forensic chemistry in criminal investigations is vast and
ranges from techniques used to collect and preserve evidence, to
complex chemical procedures used to identify elements and
compounds.
Scientific Investigation
• Imagine!
• Observation
• Hypothesis
• Experimentation
• Conclusion or theory
• This deductive procedure is termed the scientific method
 Forensic
Investigation
• Imagine!
• The results of forensic examinations must never be
accepted or rejected because you know or trust one
scientist more than another. You must keep an
unbiased, open mind, knowing that two or more
scientists may present different perspectives when
evaluating the same piece of evidence.
• The duty of the forensic chemist to present the
unbiased story of the evidence.
 • Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space
• Weight is a force resulting from the pull of gravity on a
given mass. Mass is defined as a specific quantity of matter
and is not affected by the pull of gravity

• There are three states (or phases) of matter: solid, liquid,

and gas. Solids have a defined volume and a fixed shape ;
Properties of liquids have a defined volume and undefined shape – they
confirm to the shape of their container; and gases have an

Matter undefined volume and undefined shape – they take the shape
and volume of the container holding the gas. Elements are
the fundamental building blocks of all matter .

• The symbols used to identify all known elements can be

found on the periodic table, an arrangement of the elements
based on atomic properties. For example, “H” represents the
element hydrogen and “O” represents the element oxygen
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous
• Compounds are formed through the combination of two or more elements.
• Example - Water H2O
• Mixtures contain two or more pure substances and may be homogeneous or
heterogeneous.
• Homogeneous mixtures have the same composition and properties
throughout . They are not pure substances because they contain more than
one component. For example, pure sugar water is a homogeneous mixture
containing sugar and water. It has the same sweetness throughout;
however, evaporating one component (the water) will produce the other
(sugar crystals).
Continuation..

• Heterogeneous mixtures have

distinctly different properties
within the mixture ; water and
sand would be an example.
The sand and water are easily
identified, regardless of the
degree of mixing.
Physical properties

• In chemistry, a physical property is

anything that can be measured or observed
without changing the chemical composition
of the substance
• Other physical properties often used in the
forensic identification of elements and
compounds are color, odor, density,
solubility, conductivity, and sublimation.
Chemical Properties
• Chemical properties are a measure of the ability of a substance to
produce new substances , or, more simply stated, a measure of the
reactivity of a substance .
• Burning paper produces ash, silver tarnishes, iron rusts; these are all
chemical reactions that produce chemical changes. The products are
chemically and physically different from the starting material in each
case.
 Forensic scientists would use this
knowledge to answer specific questions
that arise during an investigation.
Types of cases/exhibits received for analysis
• Chemistry Division – Arson and fire residues, Petrol, Diesel and other motor oils,
cosmetic, toiletry, cement, etc., unknown substances in the form of solids, liquids or
gases, suspected Toddy liquor and adulterants, etc.
• Cases related to NDPS drugs
• Trap cases
• Acid attacks
• Cases related to illicit liquor or beverages
[alcoholic or non-alcoholic]
• Arson cases
• Cases related to cosmetics
• Adulteration
• Analysis of gold metal and alloys in cheating cases
• Examination of petroleum products such as diesel, kerosene, petrol.
• Analysis of low standard construction materials and also examination of adulteration.
• Examination of inflammable material in dowry cases .
Overview of forensic chemical analysis
• Chemistry is the study of matter—what it consists of, what its properties are, and how it changes.

Scientific investigation

Forensic investigation

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space.

Homogeneous - Compounds are formed through the combination of two or more elements.

Heterogeneous - Heterogeneous mixtures have distinctly different properties within the mixture

Physical properties - Elements and compounds are color, odor, density, solubility, conductivity, and sublimation.

Chemical properties - Chemical properties are a measure of the ability of a substance to produce new substances, or, more simply stated, a measure of the reactivity of a substance.

Types of cases/ exhibits received for analysis

Forensic Chemical analysis

Question and Answer session
Thankyou!