FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

“FORENSIC “ comes from the Latin word” forensis” which means forum. During the time of the
Romans, a criminal charge meant presenting the case before a group of public individuals .Both the
person accused of the crime and the accuser would give speeches based on their side of their story .The
individual with the best argumentation and delivery would determine the outcome of the case .In other
words,the person with the best forensic skills would win. Forensic chemistry applies this concept to
using analytical chemistry to aid the justice system in identification and quantification of substances
collected at a crime scene(http.www.olemiss.edu/depts/forensic chemistry/).
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Chemistry is the branch of science which deals with the study of matter , its composition,
structure, transformation from one form to another , and the energy that accompanies the
transformation(Mendoza 2003)..Antoine Lavoisier is known as the Father of Modern Chemistry.

Forensic chemistry is a branch of science which deals with the application of chemistry in the
identification of physical evidence. It includes the collection , preservation, examination and study of
Blood ,semen, gunpowder, hair and textile fibers, problems on glass fragments and fractures, moulage
and casting, metallurgy, petrography, arson, drugs, criminalistics and forensic toxicology.

SCOPE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY;

1. It embraces the CHEMICAL ASPECT of investigation.
2. Analysis of any material found at the crime scene such as blood, semen, hair.
3. It is NOT limited to purely chemical questions involved in legal proceedings but is also linked to
the other branches of forensic science such as the following:
a. Legal medicine
b. Ballistics
c. Questioned documents
d. Dactyloscopy
e. Photography

Comparison of a CRIME laboratory and a CLINICAL laboratory.

Crime Laboratory Clinical/hospital laboratory

Head/supervisor Medico legal officer Pathologist/physician

Analyst/performer Forensic chemist Medical Technologist

Job Description Laboratory in the hospital which

Laboratory in the police analyzes blood, urine etc.
organization which specializes
in the analysis of physical
evidence.

purpose To solve crimes To diagnose the presence of a

disease
 FORENSIC CHEMIST

A forensic chemist is a professional chemist who analyzes evidence that is brought in from crime
scenes and reaches conclusion based on tests run on that piece of evidence.

The job of the forensic chemist is to identify materials and trace their origin.He or she spends most of
his time in the lab and small fraction of time is spent testifying in court as an expert witness. In this
instance, he or she must be prepared to defend his/her title as an expert of analysis.

The forensic chemist reports to the senior forensic chemist and is responsible for full performance of
forensic chemistry work involving analysis of substances confiscated by law enforcement agencies in
connection with criminal investigation and prosecution. Work is of an extremely complex nature and
requires a high degree of accuracy.The forensic chemist may also be required to perform analytical
proceduresin the area of postmortem toxicology.

Roles of the chemist in scientific criminal investigation.

1. Aid the investigator to determine if the specimen is in good condition to undergo such
examination.
2. Analyze the specimen collected such as blood, semen, hair and other materials essential in
solving crimes.
3. Should be an able microscopist.
4. Should be an able physicist.
5. Should be an able photographer.

Four stages in the work of a forensic chemist

1. Collection of the specimen to be examined.

a. Check if the specimen is fit to undergo examination.
b. Set a standard for comparison.
c. Maintenance for individuality.
d. Labeling and sealing the specimen to prevent tampering and destruction.
2. Actual examination of the specimen.
3. Communication of the result of the examination to the investigator.
4. Testimony of the result of the examination in open court.