UNIT 1

Week 1-3: Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO): At the end of the unit, you are
expected to:

a. Discuss the definition of Forensic Chemistry, its scope and test

methods used in the study therein;
b. Recognize the general principles in sampling and handling techniques
used in collecting object evidences in the crime scene; and
c. Distinguish the methods of identifying and collecting from collecting
blood and other body fluids from other physical evidences.
Big Picture A

Big Picture in Focus: ULOa. Discuss the definition of Forensic Chemistry, its
scope and test methods used in the study therein

Metalanguage
In this section, the most essential terms in relation to the definition of Forensic
Chemistry, its scope and test methods used in the study therein will be defined:

 Forensic Science – Is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer

questions of interest to a legal system.
 Forensic Chemistry – Is the application of chemistry to law enforcement or the
failure of products or processes that result to losses and accidents.

Essential Knowledge
To perform the aforesaid big picture (unit learning outcome) for the three (3)
weeks of the course, you need to fully understand the following essential
knowledge that will be laid down in the succeeding pages of discussion.

THE SCIENCE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

Forensic Chemistry deals with physical evidence relative to a crime, including its
collection, preservation, and examination.

Scope:
 Dangerous Drugs
 Explosions and Explosives
 Guns & Gunshot Residues
 Forensic Toxicology
 Blood, Alcohol and Drug Test
 Examination of fake products
  Fire & Arson Investigation
 Tools and trace evidences

Forensic Chemist is a person who has received extensive training in the field of
chemistry particularly in various analytical methods.

Responsibilities:
 Examines body fluids or organ tissue for any alcohol, drugs, poisons.
 Determines if sample is of human origin or not.
 Conducts gunshot residue exam on skin or clothing to establish gunshot
range.
 Conducts paraffin casts to determine presence of gunpowder nitrates.
 Performs analytical examination of different controlled substances
 Examine trace evidences to establish connection to crime
 Analyze products to determine if they are fakes
 Conduct researches related to cases being examined
 Prepares technical reports on laboratory findings for court presentation and
testifies for the facts
 Meets with officers, prosecutors, lawyers and court officers to discuss
laboratory results.
 Shares his/her expertise and knowledge

Proponents of Criminalistics
1. Edmond Locard - Considered as the father of the crime laboratory.
2. Walker Mc Crone - Considered as the father of microscopic 
     forensics.
3. Hans Gross - Considered the father of Criminalistics
4. Albert Osborne - The Father of Document Examination.
5. Leone Lattes - The Father of Bloodstain Identification.
6. Alphonse Bertillon - The Father of Anthropometry.
7. Francis Galton - The Father of Fingerprinting.
8. Mathiew Orfila - The father of Toxicology.
9. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - Popularized Scientific Crime Detection methods
through his fictional character Sherlocke Holmes.
10. Nicéphore Niépce - Father of Modern Photography

TEST METHODS

Analytical techniques have been developed from an understanding of the

chemical properties and behavior of various substances .One has to go back to the
basics of chemical composition that all substances are composed of atoms and
atoms compose of protons, electrons and neutrons. How these substances behave
will determine the appropriate test to be used in the laboratory.

1. Electrophoresis
 Is based on the principle that all substances carry an electrical charge by
virtue of the electrons that are continually spinning in their orbits around the
nucleus.
 Substances are placed in a gel or liquid. Positive and negative electrodes
are applied to each.
  This is a quick and easy way to separate organic from inorganic substances
because organic matter (proteins) carry electrical charges and are known to
migrate at known speeds
 Commonly used in blood and DNA samples

2. Spectrophotometry
 Work on the principle that substances absorb and transmit light selectively.
 Substances selectively absorb certain frequencies and reflect or transmit
others.
 This selective absorption of light by a substance is measured by an
instrument called a spectrophotometer. These machines essentially consist
of a light source beamed through a prism, then through the sample, and
then into a decoder which records output in the form of a line graph.
 The light source can be UV, Visible light or Infrared Light. IR is the most
common, as practically all substances absorb IR very selectively.

3. Chromatography
 This allows for substances to be separated into their component.
 Based on Henry’s Law of Equilibrium that a volatile compound will have a
fixed ratio of molecules escaping and staying, all substances reach this
point at different speeds known as the time of elution.
 Machine exist that record these times of elution by applying a heat source
to an injection of sample through a tube or chamber filled with a carrier
medium the recorded carried by chromatograph.
 There are three different types of techniques: Gas Chromatography (GC);
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC); and Thin Layer
Chromatography (TLC).
 GC is the most commonly used technique for hair and fibers.
4. Mass Spectrometry
 This method combines the principle of separation and absorption of light.
 Separation by gas chromatography is combined with a special kind of
spectrophotometer that measures mass/charge.
 Components are first separated using GC and then enter a high-vacuum
chamber where they are bombarded with high-speed electrons, creating an
ionization effect.
 The ions decompose rapidly into smaller fragment that travels through a
magnetic field to have their masses weighed.

5. Atomic Absorption/Emission
 The principle behind this test method is the fact that excited atoms exhibit a
spectra of colors that can be detected by an instrument.
 It is a type of spectrometry that measures the dividing lines, or breaks
between different colors of a spectrum produced by a sample-activated
light.
 The word ATOMIC with these techniques refers to ABSORPTION being the
jumping of an electron to a higher orbit and EMISSION being an electron
falling back to a lower orbit.
6. Neutron Activation Analysis
 It is based on the principle of isotopes
 An isotope of an atom is the same element with the same number of
protons but different number of neutrons.
 Most elements have 22 to 10 known isotopes.
 The one release radioactivity
 Is bombarding a sample with neutrons and measuring the isotope
radioactivity.

7. X-Ray Diffraction
 The principle involved here is the law that governs atomic planes and how
they bend x-rays differently.
 This works only with crystalline samples.
 Many rocks, minerals, and soils are crystals. Other evidences such as
blood, can be converted to crystal form with iodine and then analyzed.
 Every crystalline substance produces a different X-ray diffraction

8. Scanning Electron Microscope

 The SEM is a microscope that uses electrons rather than light to form an
image.
 The SEM has a large depth of field, which allows a large amount of the
sample to be focus at one time.
 The SEM also produces images of high resolution, which means that
closely spaced features can be examined at a high magnification.
 Please note that you are not limited to exclusively refer to this module.
Thus, you are expected to utilize other books, research articles and other
resources that are available in the university’s library e.g. ebrary,
search.proquest.com etc. and other credible internet sources.

Self-Help: You can also refer to the sources below to help you further understand
the lesson:
 Siegel, J. A. (Ed.). (2015). Forensic chemistry: Fundamentals and applications. Retrieved
from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com
 Free Animated Education (2019). Lab Tools and Equipment - Know your glassware and
become an expert Chemist! | Chemistry. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=chODOKSPJS4

Let’s Check
Activity 1.1. Multiple Choice Questions. Write letter of the best answer before
each number/item in all capital letters with no erasures.
1. It is the application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of interest to a legal system.
a. Forensics b. Forensic Science
c. Chemistry d. Forensic Chemistry
2. It is the application of chemistry to law enforcement or the failure of products or processes that result to
losses and accidents.
a. Forensics b. Forensic Science
c. Chemistry d. Forensic Chemistry
3. It deals with physical evidence relative to a crime including its collection, preservation, and examination.
a. Forensics b. Forensic Science
c. Chemistry d. Forensic Chemistry
4. A forensic chemist is a person who has received extensive training in the field of chemistry particularly in
various analytical methods which has the following responsibilities except:
a. Examines body fluids or organ tissue for any alcohol, drugs, and poisons.
b. Conducts paraffin casts to determine presence of gunpowder nitrates.
c. Prepares technical reports on laboratory findings for court presentation and testifies for the facts
d. Examine circumstantial evidences to establish connection to crime
5. Considered as the father of the crime laboratory.
a. Walker McCrone b. Edmond Locard
c. Mathiew Orfila d. Leone Lattes
6. Considered as the father of microscopic forensics.
a. Walker McCrone b. Edmond Locard
c. Mathiew Orfila d. Leone Lattes
7. Who is the father of Toxicology
a. Walker McCrone b. Edmond Locard
c. Mathiew Orfila d. Leone Lattes
8. The Father of Bloodstain Identification
a. Walker McCrone b. Edmond Locard
 c. Mathiew Orfila d. Leone Lattes
9. This test is based on the principle that all substances carry an electrical charge by virtue of the electrons that
are continually spinning in their orbits around the nucleus.
a. Electrophoresis b. Spectrophotometry
c. Chromatography d. Mass Spectrometry
10. The principle involved here is the law that governs atomic planes and how they bend x-rays differently.
a. Mass Spectrometry b. X-Ray Diffraction
c. Neutron Activation Analysis d. Chromatography

Let’s Analyze
Activity 1.2. Answer following questions:
1. What is the role of Forensics in our criminal justice system?

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2. What is the relations of Forensic Chemistry in the study of Criminology?

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In a Nutshell
RESEARCH PAPER. In the prior section of the unit, you have known some of the
basic scientific test methods of identifying chemical substances. In this section, you
are required to look for other test methods (other than the examples above) used in
conducting examination of chemical substances inside a laboratory for Forensic
Examination of physical evidences. Write at least five (5) additional test methods
with a picture for each of them. Type or put your output in a clean sheet of letter
size bond paper. Take a picture of it then submit it via Quipper/Facebook Page or
attach your output in this manual upon submission.

Q & A LIST. This section allows you to list down all emerging questions or issues.
Questions or issues may be also raised in the Quipper, Facebook messenger,
email and etc. If not through online, you can write your answers in this printed
module after clarification. This Q & A portion will help you in the review of concepts
and essential knowledge
Do you have any question for clarification?
Questions/Issues Answers
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