NIMISHA GINU

ROLL NO:
CLASS:12-D
NIMISHA GINU D
In preparation of my project, I had the guidance of my teachers who
provided an opportunity for me to learn and understand this project and
who deserves my deepest gratitude. I would like to thank my Chemistry
teacher-Mrs. Saji Baiju for guiding me through this project. I would also like
to express gratitude to my friends and family for helping with the project.
S. NO TOPIC PAGE NO
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 THEORY 2
3 HISTORY 3
4 METHODS 4
5 APPLICATIONS 5
▪ FINGERPRINTING CHEMICALS
▪ BLOOD EVIDENCES
▪ DNA FORENSICS
▪ IDENTIFICATION OF GUNSHOT
RESIDUES AND POST-EXPLOSION
RESIDUES
▪ IDENTIFICATION OF DRUGS AND
POISONS
6 ROLE OF CHEMISTS 8
7 RESULT 9
8 BIBLIOGRAPHY 10
Chemistry is used in forensic science to uncover information from
physical evidence. In criminal cases, chemists analyze substances
such as DNA and gunpowder residue to attempt to determine when
and by whom the crime was committed. The field includes tasks
such as collecting fingerprints or testing for chemicals in blood and
body tissues.
In civil cases, chemists analyze DNA to authenticate valuable
products and to identify fraudulent activity. Forensic scientists use a
variety of different chemicals for different purposes like dusting for
prints, checking an area for blood, and cleaning and disinfecting a
crime scene.
Forensic scientists have a standard repertoire of chemical agents for
their work. These agents can reveal evidence that may be hidden to
the naked eye and provide clues to what happened at a crime scene.
Thanks to these chemicals, and those who use them, police agencies
around the world have solved many crimes.
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Forensic Chemistry deals with the identification and analysis
of chemical pieces of evidence found at the scene of a crime.
These shreds of evidence are identified and examined for
proving the diversity of crimes like homicides, sexual assaults,
suicides, accidental poisoning, health and occupational
hazards associated with metallic poisons, pesticides,
insecticides, and others

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The history of forensic
chemistry is holding the facts of
methods developed by a scientist
for the identification and analysis
of poisons, which were used for
the commission of murders. The
pieces of evidence of the use of
poisons come from the early
Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks.
Arsenic was the first poison for
which the analytical test called as Marsh test was developed by British
chemist James Marsh (1752).

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Factors that forensic chemists might consider when performing an
examination are the length of time a specific instrument will take to
examine a substance and the destructive nature of that instrument.
They prefer using nondestructive methods first, to preserve the
evidence for further examination

▪ SPECTROSCOPY:
Spectroscopy is the method of
imparting electromagnetic
radiation on a body and
recording its reaction to it. Used
to measure sample by
absorption spectroscopy. Also, in measuring of toxic samples in
blood.

▪ CHROMATOGRAPHY:
When the substance to be texted is
impure, forensic chemists use
chromatography. Chromatography
breaks down the mixture into its
component constituents which can be
analyzed separately

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➢ FINGERPRINTING CHEMICALS

Forensic scientists rely on four primary chemicals to reveal and collect

fingerprints: IODINE,
CYANOACRYLATE, SILVER NITRATE
AND NINHYDRIN. These chemicals react
to substances within the fingerprint, such as
oil and sweat, making the print change color
so analysts can see it better.

➢ BLOOD EVIDENCE

FLUORESCEIN causes a chemical reaction

between oxygen and the hemoglobin present in
blood. This chemical is useful for fine blood
stains and smears which may appear in different
crime scenes.

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Another chemical used for blood evidence is LUMINOL. Like other blood-
test chemicals, it reacts with iron in the
blood. Luminol can reveal blood evidence
even if someone has tried to clean the blood
up. The forensic scientist sprays these
chemicals on the suspect area and observes
the area to see if fluorescence occurs.

Forensic scientists use common

chemicals like hydrogen peroxide
and alcohol in combination with the
other chemicals at their disposal to
produce better test results or speed
reaction times. Forensic scientists
also may use acids to perform work
like revealing etchings on metal.

➢ DNA FORENSICS

DNA forensics is used in criminal cases to match the

DNA of an individual to that of body cells left at a
crime scene, such as skin cells, hair, semen and
blood. The FBI most commonly uses STR-analysis
for its cases. With STR-analysis, chemists take DNA
samples from areas at the crime scene. These are
then compared with the DNA profiles of individuals
booked in an expensive database called CODIS to
identify suspects.

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➢ IDENTIFICATION OF GUNSHOT RESIDUES AND
POST-EXPLOSION RESIDUES

The gunshot residues and

the post-explosion debris
include the mixers of
primer and propellants
which can be identified by
instrumental techniques
like Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM) .

➢ IDENTIFICATION OF DRUGS AND POISONS

Specialized techniques like gas chromatography, liquid chromatography,

and high-performance liquid
chromatography are useful for the
identification of trace amounts of
drugs and poisons obtained from a
drug peddler to once obtained
from post-mortem tissue matter

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 There are 4 different kinds of forensic scientists: forensic serologists
examine body fluids, forensic pathologists examine human remains,
firearms technicians classify and test firearms and explosives, and
forensic chemists determine the composition and identity of
materials.
▪ Maintaining the daily records of the use of chemicals, equipment,
type, serial number and other details of the evidence are also
required to be recorded.
A job of a forensic chemist involves the testing and identification of
the presence of illicit drugs, poisons, drugs prescribed by the doctor,
alcohol samples, biological fluids like urine and blood for the
existence of toxic substance and tissue samples.

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Forensic science can solve mysteries surrounding deaths, whether
the cause is natural or foul play. Analyzing evidence from fingerprints
to chemical residues lets chemists give the medical examiner and
investigators the information they need to reach logical conclusions
about potential crimes.
Forensic science is in a unique position among all other scientific
fields because of its important social impact.

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https://sciencing.com/chemicals-used-forensic-science-
6865961.html
https://sciencemonk.com/forensic-chemistry-applications-of-
forensic-
chemistry/#A_Brief_History_of_Forensic_Chemistry
https://www.theclassroom.com/how-does-chemistry-relate-to-
forensic-science-12235684.html
http://www.chemistryislife.com/the-chemistry-of-forensic-
science

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