CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION
FORENSIC SCIENCE
• It is the study and application of science to
matters of law (criminal and civil)

• Includes the business of providing timely,

accurate, and thorough information to all levels
of decision makers in our criminal justice
system

• Also called criminalistics

FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
• Branch of chemistry dealing with the
application of chemical principles in the
solution of problems/crimes that arise in
connection with the administration of justice.

• The chemistry applied in the elucidation of the

legal problem .
-plays a very important part in the speedy
investigation and in the administration of
justice.

-this science has an advantage over

extracted confessions, eyewitnesses and
other circumstantial evidence.

-this is regarded as the highest form of

uncontestable and conclusive piece of
evidence with the utmost legal
significance.
SCOPE
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
-is the science that deals with the application of
chemical principles in the solution of problem
that arises in connection with the
administration of justice.
-also includes the study and examination of
deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA.
FORENSIC SCIENCE
-deals with the application of chemistry in the
identification of evidence , its physical and
chemical properties.
-it also includes the collection, preservation,
examination and study of blood, semen, and
other body fluids;
-examination of dangerous drugs;
-examination of body fluid to determine the
presence of dangerous drugs;
-alcohol test;
-examination of fake products for unfair trade
competition;
-arson investigation;
-macro etching examination;
-bullet trajectory;
-ultraviolet examination;
-tools and other marks;
-gunshots residues (gunpowder nitrates, paraffin test;
distance determination; and firearms examination);
-principles and examination of explosives, hair
and textiles fibers;
-gunshots residues (gunpowder nitrates, paraffin
test; distance determination; and firearms
examination);
-principles and examination of explosives, hair
and textiles fibers;
-chemical aspects of document and examination;
-problems on glass fragments and glass fracture,
moulage, metallurgy and petrography as applied
to crime investigation.
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
-deals with examination of human internal
organs, food samples and water and gastric
contents for the purpose of detecting the
presence of poisonous substance, its dosage,
effects, and treatment.
PRACTICE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
-the work of forensic chemist is divided into four stages,
namely:
1. Collection or reception of the specimen
2. The actual examination
3. The communication of the results of the
examination
4. Court appearance
 Collection of the specimen to be examined:
-the proper collection, preservation and
transportation of specimens are essential in the
investigation of a crime.
-hence, whenever possible, the chemist should
personally collect all the specimens necessary
for examination.
-this particular stage of a forensic chemist’s work
is essential as questions regarding the collection,
preservation and transportation of the specimen
are raised during trial.
Factors that must be considered when collecting
specimen for examination:

a.Sufficiency of Samples
-the investigators should collect sufficient amount of
specimen for examination.

-this will make the chemist confident that in case of

doubtful result, he or she can still have enough samples
to repeat or to proceed to the succeeding
examinations.
b.Standard for Comparison
-when the evidence in question is located in or added
with foreign substance, a sample of such foreign
substance must be submitted for analysis.
-for instance, if blood is found on linoleum, a sample of
the unstained linoleum must be submitted together
with the stained portion.
-in cases of adulteration or unfair trade competition, a
genuine sample must be submitted for comparison.
-in the examination of hair, textile fiber, soil, etc.,
standard samples must be submitted for comparison.
c.Maintenance of Individuality
-each piece of evidence must be collected and
preserved as a separate sample.

-there must be no mixing or intermingling of

specimen/s collected from different locations, as
well as those of standard specimen/s
d.Labelling and Sealing
-it is a well-settled rule that evidence will have no value
in court in spite of the good report of the expert if the
specimen cannot be identified by reason of improper
labelling.
-hence, each sample must be labelled properly.
-small fragments should be enclosed in proper
specimen boxes/container and the boxes should be
sealed.
-the label should include information concerning the
nature and source of the sample, date and time of
collection, case number, if any, and name of the person
collecting the sample.
ACTUAL EXAMINATION OF THE SPECIMEN
-the first step in the examination of an article is to scrutinize it
carefully and write down in the laboratory logbook/record
book a complete description of the external appearance
including the manner in which it is secured and the
particulars of the sealing.
-if possible take a photograph of the specimen including the
inner wrappings and take note of its descriptions.
-a detailed description of the appearance of the contents of
the package should be noted and recorded.
-all wrappers should be kept and preserved since questions
concerning them may be raised in court during trial.
-the second step in the examination is to measure or weigh the object and
all measurements and weights should be entered in the laboratory
logbook/record book.
-the specimen should the be placed in the proper container or wrapper and
must be kept in the proper evidence room.

-the third step is the laboratory examination which consists of the chemical,
physical and confirmatory tests.
COMMUNICATION OF THE RESULTS OF
THE EXAMINATION
-the results of the examination conducted should
be communicated with the requesting party in the
form of a written report which must include an
enumeration of facts on the specimen received for
examination with detailed description of the
packaging, sealing and labelling, date of receipt
and from whom it was received, the purpose of
the examination, the finding and conclusion.
COURT APPEARANCE
-the written report of the forensic chemist is
usually supplemented by testimonial evidence
in a later date if the case is brought to court or
the fiscals’ office.
-since the testimonial evidence may be given
weeks, months or even years after the
examination and the written report have been
made, it is not only permissible but
indispensable that the chemist should refresh
his memory by referring to his laboratory
record book before presenting himself in court.
ROLE OF FORENSIC CHEMIST IN THE SCIENTIFIC
INVESTIGATION:

1.Conducts qualitative and quantitative determination

of abused drugs as well as volatile substances.

2.Conducts chemical examination of explosives and/or

explosives ingredients.

3.Conducts examination of paraffin cast and firearms

to determine the presence of gunpowder nitrates.
4.Conducts gunpowder examination on clothing
for possible gunshot range.

5.Conducts chemico-toxicological examination of

human internal organs, gastric contents, blood,
water, food sample and other substances.

6. Conduct examination of fake products in cases

of unfair trade competition.
7.Conducts blood alcohol determinations.

8.Examines urine samples and other body fluids

for the presence of abused drugs.

9.Conducts researches related to cases being

examined.
10.Testifies and gives expert opinion in court.

11. Gives lectures on forensic chemistry and

chemical-toxicology to various schools,
universities, police training centers and
investigating units.

12.Responds to queries of all investigating units

and render expert opinion on matters related to
the application of chemical principles for the
purpose of assisting investigators to develop
investigative leads.
SIX GOLDEN RULES IN THE PRACTICE OF
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY:

1.GO SLOWLY
-good work cannot be hurried, therefore, take
all the time necessary to make the case
complete no matter how urgent it may appear.
2.BE THOROUGH
-make careful and minute examination of
everything and do not be satisfied with a
qualitative analysis if a quantitative one is
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.
3.TAKE NOTES
-keep a full and neat clean record of everything
seen and done.
4.CONSULT OTHERS
-many cases will lead the expert into paths with
which he is not familiar and when this happens
he should consult those who know better.
5.USE IMAGINATION
-an expert with a wide and uncontrollable
imagination is considered as the most
dangerous creature.
-though his being imaginative is sometimes
useful, an expert witness does not have to be
solely imaginative but he has to be skilled in the
field of forensic science.
6.AVOID COMPLICATED THEORIES
-the simplest explanation is fundamentally the
right one.
-interpretation of results is often the most
difficult part of the expert’s task that is why a
wide knowledge and scientific experience are
the essential elements to obtain the right
forensic examination results.
EQUIPMENTS USED IN THE FORENSIC EXAMINATION
HPLC (High Powered Liquid
Chromatography)
-this scientific equipment is used for the
qualitative and quantitative determination
of a volatile or non-volatile compound
based on the chromatographic separation
of its components.
ULTRA VIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETER
-it is used for the qualitative and
quantitative analysis of organic
compounds.
EMIT (Enzyme Multiple Immuno
Assay Technique)
-it is used for screening of abused
urine samples.
SEM (SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPE)
- this scientific equipment is used
for the physical identification of
various questioned specimens.
FTIR ( Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy)
-used for the identification of pure
organic substances.
-It identifies organic substances
particularly abused drugs and
explosive ingredients based on their
characteristic functional groups.
 AMPING
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SA
KANUNAY…..