Forensic Chemistry Lecture

WEEK 3 (First Meeting)

LESSON MANUSCRIPT

Definition of Forensic Chemistry

Forensic chemistry is defined as that branch of chemistry
which deals with the application of chemical principles in
the solution of problems that arise in connection with the
administration of justice. It is chemistry applied in the
elucidation of legal problems.
Is a branch of chemistry that deals with the application of
chemical knowledge and principles in the solution of legal
problems in connection with the administration of justice.
It is an interdisciplinary field of Chemistry tasked to solve
cases that can only be explained or resolved by applying
analytical method of investigation and instrumentation with
chemistry as the main core of discussion.
Practice of Forensic Chemistry in the Philippines
In August 1937, the Manila Police Department
appointed Miss Marcelina Villanos as Detective-Chemist
detailed at Department of Legal Medicine of University of
the Philippines. She performs laboratory examinations for
both Manila Police Department and Department of
Justice.
 In December 1937, by virtue of Commonwealth Act
181, the Division of Investigation, now known as the
National Bureau of Investigation were created with
medico-legal section they employed two medico-legal
officers and a chemist.
In October 1939, Philippine Constabulary established
its own Medico- legal Section with Chemistry Laboratory
for the purpose of assisting criminal investigation in their
own jurisdiction.
Scope of Forensic Chemistry
Forensic chemistry gains its recognition as the central
discipline in understanding other branches of criminalistics
forensic ballistics, questioned documents, such medicines,
forensic serology, dactyloscopy, forensic photography,
trace analysis and forensic DNA.
The following are the major scope of Forensic chemistry
and physical identification
1. Dangerous drugs
2. Explosives examination
3.Gunshot residue (paraffin casting, distance
determination and firearms examination)
4. Forensic Toxicology
5. Blood Alcohol and drug test
6. Examination of fake products for unfair trade
competition
7. Arson investigation
8. Number restoration (macro etching)
9. Bullet trajectory
10. Ultraviolet examination
11. Tool marks and other marks
12. Blood and other body fluids
13. Trace evidence
Generally, this subject aims to describe the different
practices of criminalistic based on chemical principles
involved in the examination of physical evidences.
Six Golden Rules in the Practice of Forensic
Chemistry
1. Go slowly.
Good work cannot be hurried, therefore, take all the
time necessary to make the case complete no matter how
urgent it may appear.
2. Be thorough.
Make careful and minute examination of everything and
do not be satisfied with a qualitative analysis if a
quantitative one is possible. It always pays to do too
much rather than too little and it is difficult to foresee what
will or will not be required in court.
3. Take notes.
Keep a full neat and clean record of everything seen
and done.
4. Consult others.
Many cases will lead the expert into paths with which
he is not familiar and when this happens he should consult
those who know better.
5. Use imagination.
An expert with a wide and uncontrollable imagination is
considered as the most dangerous creature. Though his
being imaginative is sometimes useful, an expert witness
does not have to be solely imaginative but he has to be
skilled in the field of Forensic Science. He must bear
witness within the limits of science.
6. Avoid complicated theories.
The simplest explanation is fundamentally the right
one. Interpretation of results is often the most difficult part
of the expert’s task that is why a wide knowledge and
scientific experience are the essential elements to obtain
the right forensic examination results.
WEEK 3 (Second meeting)
PRACTICE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY – The work
of forensic chemist is divided into four stages, namely (1)
collection or reception of the specimen to be
examined; (2) the actual examination; (3) the
communication of results of the examination; and (4)
court appearance.
I. Collection or reception of the specimen to be
examined.
It is most important that whenever possible the chemist
should personally collect all the specimens necessary for
the examination. Unless this is done, something essential
to the elucidation of the problem may be omitted and in
some cases questions regarding the collection and transit
of the specimen are raised during trial. Furthermore, the
collection, preservation, and transportation of specimens
are very essential in the investigation of a crime. If the
chemist will not personally collect the specimen it is
possible that the articles may be taken, handled, or
packed in such way as to render them almost useless for
purposes of examination. Sometimes it is necessary that
the chemist who examines the specimen should know not
only the condition but even the precise position in which
the object was found and this can only be done if he is
called at the commencement of the investigation and
before anything is removed or disturbed. The chemist who
is assigned to assist in the investigation of a crime should
go to the scene of the crime, make a detailed examination,
take notes and measurements, make sketches if
necessary and if possible, take a photograph of the place.
He should equip himself with all necessary containers for
the collection of specimens for laboratory examination.
This, is not always practicable and, even when practicable,
the necessity is not appreciated. The expert must
therefore depend upon the intelligent assistance of the
investigators who must, in the performance of this delicate
task, be guided by the following principles:
a)SUFFICIENCY OF SAMPLES: Police are usually
incline to be niggardly in taking samples probably
because they have an unqualified belief in the magic
of such analytical instruments as the microscope and
spectrograph. This mistake should be avoided. If an
error is to be committed, let in the side of generosity.

b) STANDARD FOR COMPARISON: If the evidence

in question is found in the presence of foreign
substance, a sample of the foreign substance must be
submitted for analysis. For example, if blood is found
on a linoleum, a sample of the unstained linoleum
must be submitted together with stained portion. In
cases of adulteration, a genuine sample must be
 submitted for comparison. In the examination of hair,
textile, fiber, soil, etc., samples to be used as
standards for comparison must always be submitted.

c) MAINTENANCE OF INDIVIDUALITY: Each

evidence must be collected and preserved as a
separate sample. There must be no mixing or
intermingling of unknown with known.
d) LABELLING AND SEALING: Evidence will have
no value in court in spite of the good report of the
expert if the specimen cannot be identified and
possibility of tampering excluded. Each sample must
be labelled. Small fragments should be enclosed in
specimen boxes and the boxes are then sealed,
preferably with sealing wax and thumb mark imprinted
on the sealing wax while still warm. Labels may be
placed on the boxes although it is recommended that
string tags must be used whenever possible. The
label should include information concerning the nature
and source of the sample, date and time of collection,
case number, if any and name of the person
collecting the sample.

II. The actual examination of the specimen:

The first step in the examination of an article is to

scrutinize it carefully and write down in the laboratory
notebook a complete description of its external
appearance including the manner in which it is secured
and particulars of the sealing. If possible, take a
photograph of the specimen. The specimen is now opened
and any inner wrappings should be described. Finally, a
detailed description of the appearance of the contents of
the package should be given. All wrappers should be kept
and sealed, preserved since questions concerning them
may be raised in court during trial.
The second step in the examination is to measure or
weigh the object and all measurements and weights
should be entered in the laboratory notebook. The
specimen is then divided into several portions, one to be
kept in its condition for further reference and production in
court. If the specimen is a court exhibit, written permission
from the court is necessary before its condition may be
changed.
The third step is the chemical, microscopic or physical
testing, whichever is indicated. The detailed procedure of
the analysis will be described in the following chapters for
each subject.
Whenever a chemical analysis is made, care should
be taken that all the apparatus used are clean, reagents
are pure and that all precautions against possibility of
contamination are taken. Blank and control experiments
should be made whenever possible. At every stage of the
analysis full notes should be entered in the notebook.
After the examination is finished, the remaining
portion of the article or the article itself should be sealed
securely and either kept for production in court or handed
over to the requesting party. It is recommended that the
chemist should retain the articles he examined and should
himself produce them in the court.
III. Communication of the results of the examination:
The results of the examination conducted will be
communicated to the requesting party in the form of a
written report which must include an enumeration of the
articles received for examination with detailed description
of the packing, sealing and labelling, date of receipt and
from whom receive, the purpose of the examination, the
findings and conclusion. The findings should include a
brief but sufficient record of all the significant facts noted
during the examination. It is not, as a rule, necessary to
mention how the analysis has been conducted. Reference
to some well-known and established methods may be
allowed. If a quantitative analysis was made it is not
necessary to report the results to more than one decimal
point except in cases of poisoning where the results may
be given to tenths or even hundredths of milligram. The
conclusion should be stated definitely and without
ambiguity. All opinions should be supported by the
evidence on which they are based. As a rule, the report
must be concise and clear, but efficiency should not be
sacrificed for brevity. If photomicrographs or photographs
of the specimen have been made, copies should be
attached to the report stating clearly on the photographs
what they represent.
IV. Court appearance:
The written report of the chemist is usually
supplemented a later date by oral evidence if the case is
brought to court or fiscal’s office. Since the oral evidence
may be given weeks, months or even years after the work
has been made and the written report, it is not only
permissible but necessary that chemist should refresh his
memory by reference to his laboratory notebook before
presenting himself in court. It is not sufficient that these
should be consulted for a few minutes immediately before
going to court or while waiting to be called but they should
be studied well beforehand. The chemist should have a
thorough knowledge of his subject and of the collateral
matters relating to it. He must anticipate and prepare to
answer likely questions having reference to the case and
should be prepared to state the degree of accuracy
attained. He should also know the weakness, if any,
inherent in the methods and employed and be ready to
meet adverse criticism directed against them. All answers
to questions and all opinion should be definite and free
from ambiguity and should be given in simple language.
Lengthy explanation should be avoided as this may
weaken the evidence and raise points that can be used by
the opposite party to cast doubts upon it. The witness
must be composed and as much as possible avoid being
irritated by up braiding of the opposite counsel. He must
be swayed by passion. He should avoid allowing his
interest in a case or belief in the correctness of his own
conclusions to make him an advocate or partisan. He
appears in order to present any facts he may have
discovered, to interpret these and other facts to help the
court with his opinions and his evidence should be given
without bias to either side.
ROLE OF FORENSIC CHEMIST/FORENSIC CHEMICAL
OFFICER IN SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION
A Forensic Chemist/Forensic Chemical Officer is
responsible for applying the natural and applied sciences
to the investigation of crimes by learning to perform
laboratory examinations of physical evidences submitted
to the Crime Laboratory.

Methods used by a Forensic Chemist/Forensic

Chemical Officer
To examined, evaluate and identify physical evidence, the
forensic chemist/forensic chemical officer utilizes the
following:
1. chemicals
2. microscopes
3. chromatographic technique
  Gas Chromatography (GC)
 High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
 Liquid Chromatography
 Paper Chromatography
 Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)
 Reversed-phase
4. spectroscopic methods
 Infrared (IR)
 Ultraviolet and Visible (UV-Vis)
 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
5. Comparative technique

Two general type of examination in Forensic

Chemistry
1. Qualitative examination – identification of substance
present in the sample.
2. Quantitative examination – determining the percent
purity of the substance.