Forensic Chemistry

Forensic Chemistry

Forensic chemistry applies scientific principles, techniques, and methods to the investigation of crime. Our daily newspaper is carrying a lot of news on incidents of criminal activities such as robbery, murder, sexual harassment, etc. How the crime department investigate and analyse it? In real life the collection and analysis of evidence involve painstaking care and rigorous application of scientific principles.

1. Forensic Chemists in Criminal Investigation

In general, forensic chemists work in four steps in the investigation of crime.

Collection of Evidences: They collect physical evidences such as knife, instruments, materials, etc in a systematic way and uncover their information using chemistry.

Analysis of evidences: In criminal cases, chemists analyze substances such as blood and DNA to attempt to determine when and by whom the crime was committed.

Collaboration: To solve the crime, they discuss with other fellow investigators like police officers, detective and other forensic scientists.

Report of findings: Finally, they prepare a report of the conclusion of the analysis.

2. Method of Forensic Chemistry

The world of forensic chemistry, focusing on the theory and processes of chemistry in forensic analysis shows the role that chemistry plays in criminal investigations. The following are some methods used in crime investigation by a forensic chemitry lab.

Finger print: Finger print is one of the most important evidences in crime investigation. Fingerprints on smooth surfaces can often be made visible by the application of light or dark powder, but fingerprints on cheque or other documents are often occult (hidden). Occult fingerprints are sometimes made visible by the use of ninhydrin, which turns purple due to reaction with amino acids present in perspiration. Fingerprints or other marks are also sometimes made visible by exposure to high-powered laser light. Cyanoacrylate ester fumes from glue are used with fluorescent dyes to make the fingerprints visible.

Biometrics: The science that involves the study and analysis of human body prints is known as biometrics. The biometric system compares the body prints to the specimen data stored in the system to verify the identity of a person.

Alcohol test: Drinkers can be easily identified by the use of applied chemistry. The person being tested blows through a tube, which bubbles the breath through a solution of chemicals containing sulfuric acid, potassium dichromate, water, and silver nitrate. Oxidation of the alcohol results in the reduction of dichromate to chromic ion, with a corresponding change in colour from orange to green. An electrical device employing a photocell compares the colour of the test solution with a standard solution, giving a quantitative determination of the alcohol content. The test provides a quick and reproducible determination of the amount of alcohol in a person's breath and is a numerical measure of the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream.

Forensic Toxicology: Toxicologists examine a wide range of materials such as blood stains, urine, and blood gases for traces of poisons or drugs. Even tiny samples of blood, saliva, or semen may be separated and subjected to enzymatic analysis.