URDANETA CITY UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

URDANETA CITY, PANGASINAN
MATH & SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

METHODS AND EXAMINATION OF RESIDUES OF GUNPOWDER, EXPLOSION, AND EXPLOSIVE

MATERIALS

PARAFFIN TEST

The paraffin test's objective is to detect the presence of nitrate residue to identify whether the person
fired a gun or not. However, it will not conclude that the person who undergoes the paraffin test-fired a
gun. First, the nitrate compound can also be a component of other substances like fertilizers, urine, and
cigarette. It also turns positive in this particular test. Second, the person turns positive in the nitrate
residue test when he/she is closer to the person who fired a gun because the residue is in the form of
particles that can travel in the air.

This technique is also called Diphenylamine Test and Dermal Nitrate Test. The diphenylamine reagent is
employed in the cast, and the paraffin wax is coated in the epidermal part of the hand where the nitrate
residue is located. In extracting the nitrate residue from the subject, it must be done within 72 hours or
three days from the shooting incident. Beyond this allotment time, it is already impossible for you to
obtain the residue.

The following are the paraffin test procedure for nitrate residues examination:

a. First step is taking the cast:

b. Wash both hands of the subject with tap water before obtaining the cast. In washing, do not use
any detergent or soap.
c. After washing, air-dry the hands or deep a piece of cotton on it.
d. Next is melt the paraffin wax over a slow fire using a Bunsen burner. Once the paraffin wax is
already liquefied, cool down provided it does not set.
e. Place the subject's left and right hands on a surface covered by a transparent paper with palms
facing down the surface.
f. After positioning the hands, drop the molten paraffin on the hands that cover the surface from
wrist joints up to the fingertips. This will cause the pores of the skin to open and exude the
particles of gunpowder residues.
g. After the first layer of paraffin wax, coat the hands with cotton. Then, interlace the second layer of
paraffin wax and press gently with a piece of cotton to make the surface even.
h. Next is waiting for a couple of minutes until the paraffin cast has set. Once it already cools, lifts
off the cast gently from the hands of the subject.
i. In a sheet of paper, you should write the following information about the cast: the date and time
when the cast was taken, name of the subject, nature of the case, for example, murder, name and
signature of the person who obtained the cast, and if there is a case. This information will be
attached to the cast before submitting it to the laboratory. The cast should wrap or place in a
clean sheet of paper or envelope to avoid contamination.

After obtaining the cast, perform the Diphenylamine Test to identify the positive or negative result.
 a. Carefully peel off or remove the cast from the container or envelope and set aside the label.
b. Apply or drop Diphenylamine Reagent using a medicine dropper to the paraffin's surface in
contact with the skin. Then observe the reaction of the reagent to the cast. The color change is
observed in this particular test. When the cast's portion turns into a blue color, it indicates a
positive result because the nitrate reacts with the reagent that makes it blue. However, like what I
have said, not all positive results fired a gun.

GUNPOWDER RESIDUE TEST (GPR)

This is similar to the paraffin test, but this time, the subject is the firearm. The GPR test determines
whether the firearm was fired or not. The technique applies the same reagent as the paraffin test—a piece
of cotton with diphenylamine reagent swab to the gun's barrel and chambers. When deep blue color
appears in the reaction of nitrate deposited in the firearm and the reagent is applied, it indicates
gunpowder residue.

To better understand, watch this video of Gunpowder Residue Testing. Click here for

Freq Physics of "Forensic Science Gunpowder Residue" at tinyurl.com/y2gk9ba4.

GUNSHOT RANGE DETERMINATION

When a firearm was fired or discharged from the cartridge, the gunpowder residue may also be deposited
on the victim's clothing. The distance of the victim from the shooter can be determined by the size and
density of the pellet pattern of gunpowder residue found from the victim's clothing. The size of the pellet
pattern increases as the distance of the victim increases. In contrast, the density of the pellet decreases.
The distance ranges from the victim to the firer or vice versa is to compare the test target to the evidence.

EXPLOSIVE ANALYSIS

The explosive analysis determines whether the sample is explosive or not and its type of explosive
material.

a. Friction Test is when performing a rubbing technique to the explosive materials in rough
surfaces. The suspected materials will place on a stone slab or scratched with a meter-long stick
or bamboo. These processes are repeated with an increasing amount of suspected materials. In
conclusion, if the material does not explode during the process, it is not explosive. However, if the
material catches fire while doing the friction test, it is explosive material.
b. The impact test is done with a hammer blow to test the suspected materials. In a paper, put a
small quantity of the material and struck with a hammer. When it exploded, this suspected
material is explosive. Mercury and silver fulminates are examples of explosive materials that are
sensitive in shock and impact.
c. Next is the Flame test. This is a simple procedure but very sensitive. This is done on a piece of
paper that contains the suspected material. The paper is then exposed to a candle flame. In
analyzing, if the reaction takes violently, it is possibly an explosive substance. Another is the color
of the flame produced while burning indicates the nature of the explosive materials.