Lesson 8.

6 Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Chemistry

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Learning Goal

To understand forensic
chemistry and its applications
in crime investigation.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the participants will
be able to:
 Define Chemistry, Forensic, Forensic
Science Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic
Chemist;
 Explain the application of forensic
chemistry in crime investigation; and
 Describe the proper procedure in the
collection and preservation of chemical
evidence.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

DEFINITION OF TERMS
 CHEMISTRY - a science that deals with the
composition, structure, and properties of
substances and with the transformations that
they undergo.
 FORENSIC - relating to the use of scientific
knowledge or methods in solving crimes
relating to, used in, or suitable to a court of
law.
 FORENSIC CHEMIST – is a person who is
expert in forensic chemistry tasked to analyze
the chemical specimen using analytical
methods available.
Investigation Officers Basic Course
 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

DEFINITION OF TERMS

 FORENSIC CHEMISTRY – is the branch of

chemistry that deals with the application of
chemical theories and principles in the
solution of legal problems in connection with
the administration of justice.

 FORENSIC SCIENCE - is the application of

scientific knowledge and methodology to legal
problems and criminal investigations

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

OVERVIEW OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

 Forensic came from a Latin word “forensis"

meaning forum, a place where Romans
conducted public discussion.
 Dr. Edmund Loccard (1877-1966) is the
founding father of forensic.
 Professor Matheiu Orfilla, the father of
modern forensic toxicology.
 In the Philippines, the practice of forensic
started with the passage of Royal Decree
#188 that was approved by King Philip.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Detection of Drugs in Blood and/or in

Urine
1. Initial Screening Test
 Marquis Test
 Simon’s Test
 Gallic Acid Test
2. Confirmatory Test
 Thin Layer Chromatography
technique (TLC)

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Color Test Reagents
1.Marquis Reagent
Mix 100ml of concentrated sulfuric acid to 5ml
40% formaldehyde.
2. Simon’s Reagent (1 volume of solution + 2
volumes of solution B)
Solution A: 1 g of sodium nitroprusside in 50 mL of
distilled water and add 2 mL of acetaldehyde
Solution B: 2 percent sodium carbonate in distilled
water
3. Gallic Reagent
Dissolve 0.1 g of gallic acid in 20 ml of
concentrated sulfuric acid
Investigation Officers Basic Course
 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Detection of Drugs (continuation)
3. Identification of Marijuana
 marijuana color test
 microscopic examination under low
objective microscope
 TLC technique
4. Test for other drugs
 Ephedrine/Pseudo Ephedrine color
test
 Cocaine Color Test
 Barbiturate Color test
Investigation Officers Basic Course
 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Explosive and Explosive Residue

Explosives are classified as follows:
1. According to velocity of reaction
involved
 High explosives
 Low explosive
2. According to their chemical structure
 Organic explosive
 Inorganic explosive

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Explosive and Explosive Residue (continuation)
3. According to their application or design
 Military explosive
 Industrial explosive
 Home-made or Improvised Explosive
Device
 Explosive with Limited use
 Novel Energenic Explosives

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Spot Test for Explosives

Test Indicators
Mercury Fulminate Formation of bright red
precipitate
Lead Azide Red color which disappear
slowly
Trinitrotoluene Color of Solution turns wine
red
Nitroglycerine Evolution of brownish fumes
or
Formation of Blood red
precipitates
Nitrates Formation of brown ring

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Test for Explosive Residue
Test Indicators
Test for Starch Initial olive green discoloration turning to dark
blue and then precipitating
Test for Oxidants
a. Diphenylamine Test Immediate appearance of a blue to purple

b. Aniline Hydrocloride Test Rapid appearance of a greenish blue

coloration

Test for Ammonium ions Color change to yellow or brown

Test for Inorganic anions Bluish Black coloration
Test for Nitrobodies and
Nitramines
a. Tetramethyl Ammonium Faint yellow coloration for NG
Hydroxide Test
b. Piperidine Test Red coloration for RDX, HMX, or sugar
c. Thymol Test Green coloration Nitrates

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Toxicology (toxic-poison, ology- science) a

branch of science; which treats of poisons, their
origin, physical and chemical properties,
physiological action, and treatment of their
noxious effect and method of detection.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Classification of poisons based on different

standards:
1. According to kingdom
2. According to chemical properties
3. According to physiological action
4. According to pharmacological action
5. According to the methods of isolation

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Toxicology Method of Analysis

a. Preliminary Examination for Volatile
Poison
b. Schrerer’s Test for Volatile Poison
c. Examinations for Non-Volatile Poisons
d. TLC Test for Organochlorate Pesticides

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Toxicology Method of Analysis (continuation)

d. Test for Metallic Poisons

e. Confirmatory test for Metallic Poisons
f. Test for Cyanide
g. Conway Micro Diffusion Test for Blood
Alcohol

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Gun Shot Residue-composed of burned

and unburned particles from the
explosive primer, the propellant, as well as
components from the bullet, the cartridge
case and the firearm used.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Application of Forensic Chemistry

Gun Shot Residue

Chemistry Methods of Analysis
1. Diphenylamine-Paraffin Test
2. Examination of firearms for the
presence of gun powder Nitrates
3. Determination of probable gunshot
range

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Collection & Preservation

 The collection process will start with the

collection of the most fragile or most
easily lost evidence;
 Most items of evidence will be collected in
paper containers such as packets,
envelopes, and bags;
 Liquid items can be transported in non-
breakable, leak-proof containers;

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Collection & Preservation

Continuation..

 Moist or wet evidence (blood, plants, etc.)

from a crime scene can be collected in
plastic containers;
 Storage time in plastic is two hours;
 Wet evidence, packed in plastic or paper,
must be removed and allowed to
completely air dry at room temperature;

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Collection & Preservation

Continuation..

 Any item which may cross contaminate

each other must be packaged separately;
and
 Each container should have the collecting
person's initials, the date and time it was
collected, a complete description of the
evidence and where it was found, and the
investigating unit name and their file
number.

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Collection & Preservation

Continuation..

Acceptable packaging containers are as

follows:
 Paper bags
 Plastic bags (clear plastic is preferred
for drug cases)
 Boxes (sturdy cardboard)
 Manila envelopes
 Small glass vials (arson and liquid
drugs)

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

Collection & Preservation

Continuation..

Acceptable seals are as follows:

 Tamper proof evidence tape
 Reinforced packaging tape
 Heat seal

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

QUESTION?

Investigation Officers Basic Course

 Lesson 8.6 Forensic Chemistry

SUMMARY
In this lesson, we learned the following:
 Definition of important terminologies used;
 We also discussed the overview of forensic
chemistry; its application in the investigation
of crimes such as; the detection of drugs in
blood and/or urine, the different test for
explosives and explosive residue, the
science of poison and the chemistry
methods of analysis for gunshot residue.
 Lastly, we discussed the important points in
the collection and preservation of forensic
chemical evidence.

Investigation Officers Basic Course