FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

Presented by:
Al-Jury Lumamba, Reg. Chem.
Order of Presentation
Definition
Types of Examination
Work of Forensic Officer
 Evidence
 Forms of Evidence
Witness
Drugs
Drug Test
Gunshot Residue
Explosives
Blood and Blood Stain
Semen and Seminal Stain
Fiber / Hair . . .
 TYPES OF EXAMINATION
 Quantitative – determines the concentration
of a given solution

 Qualitative - determines the nature of the

substance.
 ROLE OF A FORENSIC OFFICER
1. Collection of specimen to be examined.
Includes:
a. Sufficiency of sample
b. Standard for comparison
c. Maintenance of individuality
d. Labeling and sealing
2. Actual examination of the results.
3. Communication of the results of examination.
4. Court Appearance.
 What is Evidence?
 “something legally submitted to a competent
tribunal as a means of ascertaining the truth
of any alleged matter of fact under
investigation before it.
 FORMS OF EVIDENCE
1. Physical – these are tangible objects that are real,
direct, and not circumstantial. Introduced in a trial in
the form of a physical object
Ex: gun, trace particles found at the crime scene, property recovered, fingerprint,
shoeprints, handwriting, etc.
2. Testimonial – a kind of evidence that comes to court
through witness speaking under oath or affirmation.
Ex: expert witness, eyewitness, hearsay witness, character, habit, or custom
witness.
3. Demonstrative – these are types of real evidence used
to illustrate, demonstrate, or recreate a tangible thing.
Ex: a sketch of the crime scene or other constructed-to-scale models.

4. Documentary – this is usually any kind of writing,

sound, or video recording.
Ex: transcript of a telephone intercept, titles, certificates, diplomas, etc.
Examples of transient evidence
 WHAT IS WITNESS
 KINDS:
1. Ordinary witness – evidence collector,
evidence custodian . . .
2. Expert witness – Chemist, Doctor,
Ballistician . . .
 An expert witness can testify as
to his/her opinion of what the
evidence indicates
 A lay witness can only testify as

to fact
THEORY OF FORENSIC ANALYSIS

Forensic analysis may be performed to

(1)identify a questioned sample or

(2)compare a questioned sample to a known

sample for the purpose of determining the
source or origin of the sample
THEORY OF FORENSIC
ANALYSIS

1 IDENTIFICATION
2 CLASSIFICATION
3 INDIVIDUALIZATIO
N
 THEORY OF FORENSIC
ANALYSISIDENTIFICATION

Presumptive Analysis Confirmatory Analysis

 Identification
Two types of analysis

Presumptive – provides enough

information to narrow down the search

Confirmatory-identify a questioned sample

absolutely
 Presumptive analyses

✓usually quick and inexpensive to perform.

✓In drug analysis, when presumptive analyses

are negative, they exclude potential drug

candidates;

✓when they are positive, they direct the

forensic scientist toward viable confirmatory

analyses.
 Confirmatory analyses
➢identify a questioned sample absolutely
➢required for court and must be performed to
convict someone for possession of an illegal
substance.
➢use the unique chemical or physical properties of a
substance for the purpose of identification.
➢require more time and expense than presumptive
analyses.
➢require the use of sophisticated chemical
instrumentation to measure the unique properties
that lead to identification.
THEORY OF FORENSIC
ANALYSIS
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Classification Individualization
Class characteristics-
➢Properties of a substance that are shared by a group
of substances, but are not unique to all substances of a
single origin.
➢They allow for the placing of a questioned sample into
a class or group of several possible origins.
➢For example, a class characteristic of hair is its color.
If a questioned hair sample is brown, it could be
determined that the hair originated from a person with
brown hair.
Individual characteristics

➢Properties of a substance that are unique and

can be used to establish origin.
➢For example, if the brown hair sample
contained enough DNA in its root for a DNA
analysis, the DNA would be considered an
individual characteristic
Drugs and Medicine

Drug is a substance other than food

intended to affect the function of the
body. (Webster dictionary)

Medicine is a substance in certain

doses which when taken into the
human body cures illness and/or
relieves signs/symptoms of disease
 Drugs of Abuse in the Philippines

1. Shabu 2. Marijuana
(Cannabis Sativa Linn)
Methylamphetamine
Hydrochloride Tetrahydrocannabinol

3. Ecstacy/ MDMA
Methylene dioxy
Methylamphetamine
 Drug Control Agencies
Dangerous
Drugs Board

Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency

Bureau of Customs

Police
Philippine Coast Guard

National Bureau of
Investigation Other investigative
agency
 RA 6425 – Classified
RA 9165 – Comprehensive PD 1619 – Volatile as Regulated and
Dangerous Drug Act of Substances
Prohibited
2002
Classification by Origin

Opuim Poppy Coca leaf Cannabis Ephedra Peyote Ergot

sativa
Morphine, Mescaline
Codeine,
Heroine
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF DRUGS

A. Stimulants
• These drugs are used to increase mental
activity, relieve fatigue and offset
drowsiness.
•Presumptive test
•Simon’s Test (blue) Marquis test (purple)

• Can cause mental retardation to unborn babies

• Extended wakefulness and increased mental alertness
• Loss of memory
• Irritability, anxiety and fear
• Lacks interest towards studies and work
• Chronic snorters suffer from irritation of the nose to
frequent nose bleeding
• Loss of appetite resulting in decreased body weights
 Example of
Stimulants
• Cocaine • Methylamphetamine
Hydrochloride (shabu)

• MDMA - Methylenedioxy-
methylamphetamine (Ecstacy)
Others: amphetamines
(speed and ice), caffeine,
cocaine, nicotine (tobacco).
 
CLASSIFICATIONS

B. Depressants
 Substances that depress the
function of the central nervous
system of the body.
Barbiturates (sleeping pills – Central
Nervous Depressant)
Common name: “yellow jackets”,
“blue devils”, rainbow, Amy’s and
“reds” (stem from the color of the
capsule or tablet).

Presumptive Test:
a.Dille-Koppanyi - Purple
b.Koppanyi-Zwikker – Blue-violet
First synthesize (1863) by Adolf von
Baeyer (German Chemist). The agent that
cause Marilyn
The word "barbiturate" is a combination of Monroe's death
"Barbara" with "urea":

von Baeyer discovered it on Saint Barbara’s

Day, and urea
was used in the synthesis
of the new molecule.
Barbara + Urea
C. Narcotics
- used to eliminate pain. Example:
opium, morphine, heroin

Tranquilizer – reduce anxiety, ease

tension & relax muscle

EFFECTS of Narcotics
• Slows down and in some
cases, stops breathing.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Constipation
• Lowers testosterone level.
NARCOTICS ARE NATURAL
OPIOIDS:
Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy
plant and that work in the brain to produce a variety of effects,
including the relief of pain with many of these drugs.

Narcotics are natural opioid which are obtained from the dried
latex of opium poppy plant.

White milky liquid is shown in the diagram which is Latex of

opium poppy is a natural source of narcotics.
CLASSIFICATION OF
NARCOTICS:
According to origin the narcotics are classified
into three groups:

1.Natural derivatives of opium

2.Partially synthetic drugs derived from
morphine
3.Thesynthetic chemical that resembles in
chemical structure with morphine.
 NATURAL DERIVATIVES
OF OPIUM:
Natural derivatives of opium are alkaloid drugs. Alkaloids are a huge group
of naturally occurring organic compounds which contain nitrogen atoms or
atoms (amino or amide in some cases) in their structures. These nitrogen
atoms are usually situated in some ring (cyclic) system. The main natural
occurring derivatives of opium are:

1.CODEINE:
It is alkaloid phenanthrene. It is an analgesic, antitussive, and antidiarrheal.
MF: C18H21NO3, MW: 299.4g/mol

2.MORPHINE:
It is also an alkaloid phenanthrene with strong analgesic action.
MF: C17H19NO3, MW: 285.34 g/mol
 PARTIALLY SYNTHETIC
DRUGS DERIVED FROM
MORPHINE:
Morphine is naturally extracted from the opium latex.
From morphine different other kinds of drugs are
synthesized which are given below:
1. Oxycodone:
It is also an alkaloid drug which is synthesized from
morphine by hofmann rearrangement. It causes the same
effect like morphine but it is 50% more reactive than
morphine. MF: C18H21NO4
2. Heroin:
It is a semisynthetic product obtained by product in
acetylation of morphine, which occurs as a natural opium.
Heroine is 30 times more reactive than morphine MF:
C21H23NO5
THE SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL THAT
RESEMBLES IN CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
WITH MORPHINE:
In this group that narcotics are present which are
synthesized in the laboratory, these narcotics are not
extracted from the plants but they show some kind of
resemblances with morphine. These drugs are given below:
1. Fentanyl:
It is a lipophilic phenylpiperidine. It can be prepared from
N-benzyl-4-piperidone by reacting it with phenethyl
bromide to give N-phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP) which is
then converted to fentanyl. It is 80 times least reactive than
morphine. MF C22H28N2O
 ANALYSIS OF
NARCOTICS:
Many techniques are used in the analysis of narcotics in the
field of analytical chemistry. The best techniques which are
used are gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Now a days optical chemical imaging (OCI) technique is
used in the forensic lab for the analysis of narcotics.

Before the use of these technique preliminary tests are

performed in which presumptive color test is basic for the
drug analysis.
Before the analysis, some tests for the identification of
alkaloid is performed which are performed which
given below:

TEST NAME REAGENT RESULT

PRESENT
orange red ppt.
Dragendorff’s test Potassium bismuth iodide
Solution

Mayer ’s test Potassium mercuric iodide White ppt.

solution
COLOR TEST OF DIFFERENT COMPOUNDS ARE
GIVEN BELOW:

TEST NAME REAGENT RESULTS COMPOUND

PRESENT
Violet color, Morphine, heroin,
Marquis Solution of Reddish, Dark violet, Codeine, oxycodone,
reagent formalin pale violet, brown meperidine
test and H2SO4

Nitric acid test 71% w/w HNO3 Orange, Morphine, Heroin,

yellow, green Codeine
Eosin Y test Eosin disodium Pink, hydromorphone
salt purple fentanyl
 HOW NARCOTIC
WORK 48
• Narcotic drugs work as central
nervous system (CNS)
• Specific recepter present on brain
through it bind.
• depressants by slowing down
neural activity in both the brain and
the body.
• Since narcotics effects specifically
target the CNS, once drugs enter the
brain, their effects can spread quickly
throughout the body
• and slow down overall
communications between the brain
and the body.
D. Hallucinogens
are drugs which affect sensation,
thinking, self-awareness and
emotion.

Changes in time and space

perception, delusions (false beliefs)
and hallucinations may be mild or
overwhelming, depending on dose
and quality of drugs
TYPES OF HALLUCINATIONS
 VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS- involves seeing things that are
not there. For example, you might see a person who is not in the
room or flashing lights that no one else can see.
 Therefore, hallucinogens are a class of drugs that cause
hallucinations or they are psychoactive agents which can
cause hallucination, perceptual anomalies and other
substantial subjective changes in thoughts, emotions and
consciousness. These drugs disrupt the production of
serotonin and cause distinct changes in the way the brain
processes sensory emotion.
VARIETIES AND OTHER NAMES

 Hallucinogens fall into 3 main categories

 1.Deliriants
 2.Psychodelics
 3.Dissociatives
FORMS OF ADMINISTRATON
 Swallowing as tablet or pills
 Swallowing as liquid
 consuming raw or dried
 Brewing into tea
 Snorting
 Injection
 Inhaling
 Absorbing through the lining in the mouth using drug soaked
pieces
SOURCES OF HALLUCINOGENS
Hallucinogens are categorized into:

Natural Sources
Synthetic or Man-made Sources
 NATURAL SOURCES

Most of the time hallucinogens are derived from plants or fungus

specifically mushrooms. For instance
LSD (d-lysergic acid diethylamide) is one of the most powerful mood
changing chemicals. It is a clear white odorless material made from lysergic
acid, which is found in ergot (Claviceps Purpurea) which is a fungus the
grows on rye and other grains. Other names of LSD are Acid, Blotter, Dots
and Yellow Sunshine.
 Mescaline derive from peyote cactus a small spineless cactum from
Lophophora Williamsii which grows in the southwestern United States and
Mexico. Others of mescaline include Buttons, Cactus.
 Psilocybin and Psilocin which come from certain mushroom notably two
Mexican species Psilocybe Mexicana and Stropharia cubensis found in
tropical and subtropical regions of South America and United States. Other
names include Little Smoke, Magic Mushroom, Purple Passion.

Other hallucinogens include bufotenine, originally isolated from the

skin of toads, harmine from the seed coats of a plant in the middle
east and Mediterranean.
SYNTHETIC SOURCES
 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine(MDMA)
 Phencyclidine(PCP)
 Tetrahydrocannabinal(THC), the active ingredient in Cannabis,
or marijuana, obtain from the leaves and the tops of plants in the
genus Cannabia is also sometimes classified as a hallucinogen.
FORMS OF HALLUCINOGENS

 Powders such as phencyclidine

 Gelatine such as LSD
 Capsules such as LSD and phenycyclidine
 Tablets and pills such as ketamine
 Liquid forms such as LSD
 Ill Effects of Drugs

I. Mental Health

1. Disturbance in PERCEPTION
2. Disturbance in ORIENTATION
3. Disturbance in MEMORY
4. Disturbance in JUDGEMENT
II. Physical Health

1. Systemic

a. Cardiac (HEART) Pathology

b. Pulmonary (Lung) Illnesses
c. Hepatic (LIVER) Problems
d. Renal (KIDNEY) Disease
General Health
a. Malnutrition
b. Infections
c. Accidents
d. Blood Transmitted Disease
WHICH ONE
 (Screening/Preliminary Test)
√ 1. Cocaine 4. Opium
a) Cobalt thiocyanate (CT) Test - Blue a) Marquis Test – Violet
b) Wagner test (Specific for cocaine only) - b) Ferric Sulfate Test - Brownish purple
Brown
c) Mecke Test – Blue to green
√ 2. Cannabis (Marijuana) d) Nitric acid Test – Orange to red to
a) Fast Blue B Salt Test – Purple-red yellow

b) Duquenois-Levine Test - Violet 5. Morphine

3. Diazepam (Benzodiazepines) a) Marquis Test – Violet to reddish-purple

a) Zimmerman Test (derivatives not 6. Codeine

included) – Reddish-purple or pink
a) Mecke Test – Blue to green
b) Hydrochloric acid – Yellow
b) Nitric acid – Orange to yellow
c) Vitali-Morin test – Yellow-orange
 (Screening/Preliminary Test)
8. Heroin 12. Methaqualone and Phencyclidine
a) Mecke Test – Blue to green a) Cobalt thiocyanate (CT) Test – Blue
b) Nitric acid Test – Yellow to green 13. Lysergide or Lysergic acid
9. Barbiturates diethylamide (LSD)
a) Ehrlich Test – Violet
a) Dille-Koppanyi Test – Reddish
purple 14. Mescaline
√
10. Methamphetamine Hydrochloride a) Marquis Test – Orange
a) Simon Test – Blue b) Nessler’s Liebermann – Black
b) Marquis Test – Orange to brown

11. Ecstacy
a) Simon Test – Blue

12. Methaqualone and Phencyclidine

a) Cobalt thiocyanate (CT) Test - Blue
Immunoassay method
Competitive immunoassay, the antigen in the
unknown sample competes with labeled antigen to
bind with antibodies. The amount of labeled
antigen bound to the antibody site is then
measured. In this method, the response will be
inversely related to the concentration of antigen in
the unknown. This is because the greater the
response, the less antigen in the unknown was
available to compete with the labeled antigen.
MJ, squash, cassava, papaya
 A commonly tested sample is
Urine. Other specimens
could be hair, saliva, sweat &
blood but are not
interchangeable with urine.
 The drug compound found in
these tests is the parent drug
& not its metabolites.
 Urine screens reflect drug use over the
last 2-3 days for amphetamines,
cocaine's, and opiates, and several
weeks for marijuana (cannabinoids).
 Hair testing, using the root end of the
hair, will reflect drug use within the last
2-3 mos. But not drug use occurring 1-7
days prior to testing.
 Saliva will show w/c drugs have been
used within 24 hours.
 Sweat, collected by wearing a patch,
can demonstrate evidence of drug use
for up to 7 days. Very few lab can do
this.
 Confirmatory tests
√ 1. Gas Chromatography (GC-MS)

2. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)

√ 3. High–Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-MS)

Urine Sample
 Thin Layer Chromatography
 confirmatory
Solvent System A Solvent System B

RfAS1 = 4.5/8.5 = 0.53 RfBS3 = 3.5/8.5 = 0.41

RfAQ1 = 4.5/8.5 = 0.53 RfBQ3 = 4.4/8.5 = 0.52
RfAS2 = 4.4/8.5 = 0.52 RfBS4 = 4.4/8.5 = 0.52
RfAQ2 = 4.4/8.5 = 0.52 RfBQ4 = 4.4/8.5 = 0.52
The reverse-phase HPLC is used in the analysis in which the polar mobile
phase and the non-polar stationary phase is used.
A mixture of narcotics drug were studied in the HPLC-MS system. The
condition
which were set shown in the table below:
PARAMETERS CONDITIONS
Column C-18
Isocratic mobile phase Methanol: ethanol: acetonitrile (1:1:1)
detection system Mass spectrometer
flow rate 1.0mL/min
temperature Room temp.
Retention time 6 minutes
Injection volume 100 micron liter
 GUNSHOT RESIDUE
EXAMINATIONS
 Gunshot residue:
- traces of material that remain after the use
of a firearm using gunpowder ammunition.
A. Primers:
 Lead Azide
 Used to initiate the propellant in ammunition.
 Sensitive to heat, shock or friction.
 Deposits into thumb web and dorsal portion
of the firing hand.
B. Propellants:
 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, 10%
sulfur
 Produces gas to propel the bullet.
 Produces smoke and residue in the barrel.
C. Stabilizers:
 Added to propellants and explosives to
retard their decomposition.
 DETECTION OF GUNSHOT
RESIDUE:

Body parts close to the fired weapon may

have residues consistent with having fired
the weapon.
 METHODS USED IN DETECTING
RESIDUES:

1. Paraffin test
2. Distance determination (Singeing 1-3 in.,
Smudging 3-8 in.and Tatooing 8-18 in.)
3. Firearm Examination
 Paraffin Examination:
 Residues implanted on the
exposed surface of the hand. (Pores
of the Skin).
 < 72 hours
 Covered with paper bag.
 False Positive Results:
 Fertilizer
 Explosives
 Tobacco
 Urine
 Food samples
* Nitrate from gunpowder
 > DPA Reagent gives blue
specks with tailings.
* Non- Specific but it can be used as a corroborative
evidence.

DPA Reagent = 0.5 gram of Diphenylamine crystals + 80

ml Concentrated Sulfuric acid + 20 ml Water (acid to
water)
 Factors affecting the result of
Paraffin Examination:
a. Type of caliber
>More residues in revolver firearm
b. Length of barrel
>shorter barrel deposits residue in larger area
c. Direction of firing
>more residues when fired upward
d. Wind Direction
>residues will be blown in the direction of the
wind.
e. Use of gloves and when 72 hours has elapsed.
 - is any chemical compound or mixture
that under the influence of heat,
pressure, friction or shock, undergoes a
sudden chemical change or
decomposition.
1. According to the velocity of reaction involved:
A. HIGH EXPLOSIVES – the speed of its detonation
wave is equal or greater than 1000m/s and pressure
equal to thousands of atmospheres.

B. LOW EXPLOSIVE – the rate of its decomposition

is relatively slow process and the wave produced is
less than the speed of sound.
2. According to their Application or Design
A. Military Explosives
i. Composition 4 (C4) – mixture of RDX,
polyisobutylene, di-(ethylhexyl)secabate, and fuel
oil.
ii. Amatol – mixture of 2,4,6 –
trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Ammonium nitrate
iii. Cyclotol – RDX and TNT
iv. Picratol – TNT and Ammonium picrate
v. Trinotal – TNT and Aluminum
2. According to their Application or Design
B. Industrial Explosives
i. Dynamite – contains 75% nitroglycerine,
absorbed and desensitized by diatomaceous earth or
saw dust;
ii. Ammonium nitrate explosives – (ANFU)
C. Home-made or Improvised Explosives
S - witch
P - ower
I – nitiator (blasting cap)
C - ontainer
E – xplosives (main charge)
 Laboratory Tests for Explosives
(Chemical Test)

TNT – Diluted Sodium Hydroxide and

Acetone (Color of solution turns to Red
wine)

Cyclonite (RDX) – Thymol, Sulfuric acid

and Ethanol (Formation of Red Rose
solution)
 BLOOD AND BLOODSTAINS
 BLOOD – is called as the circulating tissue of the
body.
. 1 cubic ml = 5,000,000 red cells
. 6 quarts in an average size man
 COMPOSITION OF BLOOD
1. Plasma – pale yellow liquid
- protein (fibrinogen)
- 65% of blood is plasma and 90% of plasma is
water, 10% contains the proteins.
2. Formed Elements:
- RBC (Erythrocytes)
- WBC (Leucocytes)
3. Serum – pale yellow liquid that squeezes out in clotted
blood
- no fibrinogen
CASE INVOLVE BLOOD AS AN
EVIDENCE
1. MURDER
2. RAPE
3. HOMICIDE
4. PATERNITY CASE
 PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY POLICE
OFFICERS AND FORENSIC CHEMIST IN
USING BLOOD AS AN EVIDENCE:
1. Where to search for blood in a crime scene?
2. How to collect and preserve specimens
containing blood and bloodstains?
3. Do the stains contains blood or other
substance?
4. If the stain is blood, is it human or not?
5. If human, what group of blood it belongs to?
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF
BLOOD
1. As circumstantial or corroborative evidence
against or in favor of the perpetrator of the
crime.
2. For disputed parentage.
3. Determination of the cause of death and the
length of time the victim survived the attack.
4. Determination of the direction of the escape
of the victim or the assailant.
5. Determination of the origin of the flow of
blood.
PRELIMINARY TEST FOR BLOOD

COLOR TEST:
1. Benzidine test – intense blue color
2. Phenolphthalein test / Meyers test –
permanganate color.
3. Schonbein’s test / Guiacum test – blue
color
4. Leucomalachite Green test – blue color.
 CONFIRMATORY TEST
1. Microscopic test:
a. Fresh blood – RBC are seen as spherical
w/out nuclues .
b. Animal blood – RBC are oval in shape.
2. Microchemical test:
a. Teichman test – dark rhombic crystal
b. Takayama test – salmon pink
3. Precipitin test - human or animal origin
4. Absorption method – blood group of the
human bloodstains, (disputed paternity).
SEMEN AND SEMINAL STAINS
FRESH SEMEN – viscid, gelatinous, sticky
character but after exposure to air, it tends to
become more liquid.
- 10% formalin solution as preservative.

COMPOSITION:
1. Seminal fluid
2. Formed cellular elements:
- spermatozoa
- epithelial cells
- proteins
CASES INVOLVE IN SEMEN AND
SEMINAL STAINS
RAPE
ADULTERY
SODOMY
BESTIALITY
 METHODS OF EXAMINATION
1.PHYSICAL
a. By feeling the apparel – presence off stiff and
starchy feeling
b. Ultraviolet examination
2. CHEMICAL EXAMINATION
a. Florence test – presence of choline
b. Acid phosphate test – based on the reaction of
acid solution and acid phosphotase.
PROSTATE GLAND – seminal fluid is 400
times greater than in other parts of the body.
3. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
- confirms the presence of spermatozoa ( Aspermia /
Oligoaspermia
. . .
Question?