FORENSIC CHEMISTRY &

TOXICOLOGY
WITH LABORATORY EXERCISES
 FORENSIC SCIENCE

• the application of the scientific method to legal questions

• laws enforced and upheld by the criminal justice system
• local law enforcement agencies
 FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

• sub-discipline of forensic science; roots lie in medico-legal investigation, toxicology, and microscopy
• application of chemistry to law enforcement or the failure of products or processes that
results to losses and accidents
• deals with physical evidence relative to a crime
• involves different analytical methods used to reveal the chemical changes that occurred
during an incident ( reconstruct the sequence of events )
• meeting both scientific and legal scores (researches, practices, presentation )
• emphasizes on methodology and validation
 CRIMINALISTICS

• branch of forensic science focused on evaluating physical evidence

collected at crime scenes
• scientists as criminalists may conduct crime scene investigation, perform
analyses in the laboratory, write reports, and testify as expert witnesses
in court
• criminalists focus on recognizing, documenting, collecting,
preserving, analysing, and reporting on physical evidence
UNITS OF FORENSIC LABORATORIES THAT
USE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

UNIT EVIDENCE METHODS

Stereomicroscopy
Trace Evidence Polymers, paints,
Compound light microscope
glass, hair, fiber, Polirizing microscope
plastic, paper Microspectrometry (UV-Vis, FTIR)

Scanning electron microscope

UNITS OF FORENSIC LABORATORIES THAT
USE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

UNIT EVIDENCE METHODS

Color spot tests, macroscopic
Controlled White powders, tests, stereomicroscopy,

substances colored chemicals, microcrystalline tests, FTIR,

GC-MS
botanical materials
etc.
 PHYSICAL EVIDENCES

• narcotics marijuana, and drug paraphernalia

• weapons, ammunition and shell casings
• explosives, flammable substances and accelerants
• body fluids, impressions such as tire markings, shoe prints, tracks,
bite marks, fabric impressions
• cigarette butts, chewing gum, contact lenses, clothing, rags, plastic
bags, saw dust, duck tape, and rope
 SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

•includes collection, preservation, examination

of various samples taken from a crime scene
or related to a crime
• under the department of police investigators
MAJOR SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
EXPLOSION & EXPLOSIVES
EXAMINATION AND
DANGEROUS DRUGS PRINCIPLES
MAJOR SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

GUNS & GUNSHOT RESIDUES BULLET TRAJECTORY

MAJOR SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

BLOOD, ALCOHOL & DRUG

FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY TEST
MAJOR SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

EXAMINATION OF FAKE FIRE & ARSON

PRODUCTS INVESTIGATION
MAJOR SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

TOOLS, OTHER MARKS &

MACRO ETCHING TRACE EVIDENCES
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Examines body fluids

such as blood, semen,
urine, saliva, or organ
tissue for any alcohol,
drugs, poisons
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Determines if samples
received are of human
origin or otherwise
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Conduct gunshot residue

examinations on clothing
and skin to establish
gunshot range
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Conducts paraffin casts…

determination of presence of
gun- powder nitrates
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Performs analytical
examinations of different
controlled substances such s
dangerous drugs and explosive
or explosive ingredients
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Examines trace evidences to

establish if they have any
connection to a crime being
investigated
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Analyzes products to determine

if they are fakes or if they are
what they claim they are for
unfair trade competition
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Conducts researches
related to cases being
examined
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Prepares technical reports

on laboratory findings for
court presentation and
testifies concerning
scientific facts
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Meets with officers,

prosecutors, lawyers and
court officers to discuss
laboratory results
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FORENSIC CHEMIST

Shares his/her expertise and

knowledge through lectures…
schools, universities, police
training centers and
Investigating units
WHAT ROLE WILL YOU PLAY TO
HAVE AN EFFECTIVE AND
EFFICIENT FORENSIC
INVESTIGATION?
TOOLS USED IN GATHERING
EVIDENCES
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
WHAT IMPLICATION/S CAN
BE DRAWN FROM THE
IMAGES PRESENTED?
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS

• Eyepiece or Ocular lens: • Body Tube:

An eyepiece is a magnifying lens
attached to the microscope which helps
in magnifying the sample object. It is
called an eyepiece as we need to place
our eye near it in order to see the
magnifying image of the sample.
A body tube is an integral part of
the microscope as it holds the eye
piece and connects it to the
objective
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS
Arm:
The arm is the part of microscope that
connects to the base and helps carry the
microscope easily. One can hold the
arm with on hand and put another hand
under the base of the microscope so
that it can be carried easily
Base:
The base is the bottom part of the microscope,
usually made up of durable material as it
supports the microscope to stand and provides
stability. The base is very important as
stability is very important to gain accurate
results. With an unstable base, the results may
not be as accurate as we require.
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS

Illuminator: Stage:

An illuminator is a source of light A stage is an indispensable part of the

usually situated at the bottom/ base of
the microscope. It is a low voltage
halogen bulb of about 110 volts to
provide steady light to the sample in
order to facilitate the experiment/study.
microscope. It is a flat surface where the
slide with the specimen is placed. A
mechanical stage is a stage used when
working with higher magnifications. It is
moved by using knobs as even the slightest
moment can affect the results.
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS
Stage Clip:
Stage clips are used to hold the slides in
place in the absence of a mechanical stage.
It is used in comparatively simpler
experiments. But even in simpler
experiments, the movement of slides is
crucial hence stage clips are used to
provide stability to the slides.
Revolving Nosepiece or Turret:
A nosepiece is the part of the microscope
which holds two or more objectives
simultaneously to provide various
magnifications in order to view the same
specimen in various dimensions.
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS

Objective lens: Low Power Objective:

Low Power objective is a short length

Objective lens is the part of microscope
objective, most widely used in the
responsible for magnifying the image of
microscopes to view slides. Usually the
specimen. Usually there are three objective
experiments carried, use low power objective
lenses in a standard microscope of 10X, 40X
until the study of the specimen is very specific.
and 100X. Depending upon the aim of study
Also due to the short length of the objective, it
and nature of the specimen, the most suitable
avoids ramming into the slide and protecting it
objective lens can be brought to use.
from breaking.
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS
High Power Objective:
• High power objective, also known
as high-dry objective is used to
study a specimen in very fine and
detailed manner. It is a bit longer in
length than the low power objective
and needs to be handled with care.
Rack Stop:
It is a part of the microscope responsible
for adjusting and determining the
distance between the objective lens and
the specimen. It is very important as it
avoids the ramming of objective lens
into the slide, which can result in
destroying the slide and specimen.
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS
Condenser Lens:
The function of the condenser lens is
to collect the light from the illuminator
and focus it on the specimen. A
microscope with a condenser provides
with a sharper and clearer image than
a microscope without a condenser.
Diaphragm or Iris:
The diaphragm is used to control the
amount of light reaching the specimen. In
a student scope it is a rotating disk under
the stage and above the condenser. There
are various holes in the diaphragm in order
to facilitate the variants in the experiments
carried on.
 PARTS OF A MICROSCOPE AND ITS
FUNCTIONS

Coarse adjustment knob: Fine Adjustment Knob:

A coarse adjustment knob is a knob present on
the arm of a microscope. The main function of This knob is a sub part of the Coarse
this knob is to move the specimen back or forth adjustment knob. It is used to bring
to adjust the slide containing specimen in order
the specimen into sharp focus.
to bring it to focus and show the best image
possible. The coarse adjustment should be
carefully moved and adjusted to attain desired
results.