CHEMISTRY INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT
“FINGERPRINTING THE CRIME
SCENE INVESTIGATION”
 A.V.P TRUST PUBLIC SENIOR
SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)-2021-22
(Affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi, Affi.No : 1930358)

CHEMISTRY PROJECT

Project report on “FINGERPRINTING THE CRIME SCENE

INVESTIGATION ” Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement
of CBSE, Delhi for the award “Senior Secondary Certificate” in
CHEMISTRY for the academic year 2021-2022.

Submitted by:. Under the guidance of

NAME: GANISHKA.R. Mrs. ROSALIN.W

ROLL NUMBER:11B07
 CERTIFICATE
Certified that the entries in this project file is the Bonafide work of
Master/Ms : GANISHKA.R
Grade : XI
Roll Number : 11B07

Completed during the academic year 2021-2022.This project file was

submitted for the CBSE (Grade XI).

Practical examination in CHEMISTRY is conducted on

( Signature of the HOD ) ( Signature of the Principal )

( Signature of Internal Examiner) (Signature of External Examiner)

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
At the outset, I would like to express our gratitude to the Almighty, for
keeping us in good health all through our school life.

I, with great pleasure and sincerely record our gratitude to our school
Principal Mrs. PRAMOTHINE M.B.A., M.Ed., M.Phil., (PhD)., AVP
Trust Public Senior Secondary School (CBSE) TIRUPUR for allowing us to
pursue this project.

I place our record of sincere gratitude and appreciation to our project guide
Mrs. ROSALIN.W M.Sc., B.Ed., for her kind cooperation and guidance
which enabled us to complete this project on time.

I take this opportunity to dedicate our project to the faculty members who
were a constant source of motivation and we express our deep gratitude to
their never ending support and encouragement during this project. Finally, we
thank each and everyone who helped us to complete this project.
 DECLARATION
I , GANISHKA.R hereby declare that the project on

“FINGERPRINTING THE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION”

by me, under the guidance of Mrs. ROSALIN.W is submitted in

partial fulfilment of the requirement of the award of the CBSE grade
XI in the academic year 2021-2022.

GANISHKA.R
 CONTENTS
i. Introduction
ii. The hidden data in your fingerprints
iii. Problems with fingerprint identification
iv. Visualizing latent prints
v. Aging of fingerprints
vi. Historical background of fingerprints
vii. Importance of fingerprints
viii. Technology and innovation
ix. What is fingerprint identification
x. Collecting latent prints
xi. Alternate light source
xii. Cyanoacrylate
xiii. Chemical developers
xiv. Ninhydrin
xv. 1,2- Indanedione
xvi. Patterns
xvii. Minutiae features
xviii. Experiment on fingerprint analysis
xix. Conclusion
xx. Bibliogrphy
Fingerprint Identification is the method of identification using the
impressions made by the minute ridge formations or patterns found
on the fingertips. No two persons have exactly the same arrangement
of ridge patterns, and the patterns of any one individual remain
unchanged throughout life. Fingerprints offer an infalible means of
personal identification. Other personal characteristics may change,
but fingerprints do not.

Fingerprints can be recorded on a standard fingerprint card or can be

recorded digitally and transmitted electronically to the FBI for
comparison. By comparing fingerprints at the scene of a crime with
the fingerprint record of suspected persons, officials can establish
absolute proof of the presence of identity of a person.
 Fingerprints have provided key evidence in countless cases of serious
crime. But there are still some situations in which it can be difficult
or impossible to recover fingerprints and this can cause a headache
for forensic investigators. In seeking a solution to this problem,
researchers like myself have started to realise that a fingerprint can
be used for a lot more than just its unique ridge pattern.

 A fingerprint is formed when a finger makes contact with a surface.

The finger leaves behind traces of sweat and any other substances
present on the finger that a suspect might have touched. These
substances are deposited in the characteristic pattern of the ridges
present on the finger tip of the donor. Most fingerprints are invisible
to the naked eye and require a chemical development process in
order to visualise them. And newer processes can obtain much more
information about the fingerprint owner, what they’ve touched, what
they’ve eaten and even what drugs they’ve taken.
 A fingerprint left at a crime scene (in forensics called a “fingermark”) will
contain not only sweat from a suspect, but also traces of any substances a
suspect has touched. This can be very useful evidence if the fingermarks
contain a victim’s blood or explosive compounds as it instantly ties a
suspect to those substances. But even then, a fingermark gives no
investigative lead whatsoever if the suspect is not on the fingerprint
database.
Fingerprint identification is a form of biometrics, and like every biometrics
method in existence, it is not fool-proof.

Generally, biometric identification occurs when the physical attributes of a

person are used in identifying the said person. It can be through voice, eye
features, fingerprint identification, and so on.

The physical attributes of fingerprint identification differ from one person to

another. Usually, this form of identification is fast compared to others.

Not minding that there are benefits of fingerprint identification, one can still
come across its drawbacks. There are some flaws of fingerprint
identification that we’ll review here.
 Experts That Attempt to Make an Identification of a Suspect
Based on Fingerprint Analysis May Suffer From Context Effects

Studies have tested groups of fingerprint examiners to see if they all make
the same identification and the correct identification. The test was set up so
that the examiners looked at two pairs of fingerprints and had to decide
whether the fingerprints were a match. Five examiners were tested, who on
average had 17 years of experience. The examiners could not agree and
their decisions did not match each other. The bottom line is if you have
multiple examiners examine a set of fingerprints, they may not form a
consensus on whether or not the fingerprints match those of the suspect.

This may be due to context bias, which means that an examiner may
consider other information told to him or her apart from the fingerprint
evidence itself. For instance, if the examiner is told a lot of background
details, the examiner may believe the suspect is guilty and that believe
could influence the result of the examination.
 Visualizing Latent Prints
There are also problems with visualizing latent prints. This may depend on
the type of material the fingerprint is on. For instance, if the fingerprint is
found on a metal, such as the casing of a bullet, human salt and sweat could
compromise or enhance the print or render a partial print.

Aging of Fingerprints
There is a lot of speculation as to how long a fingerprint lasts. That too will
depend on the material the print is on (such as a corroded metal). The problem
is the longer a fingerprint lasts, the more susceptible it is to external
manipulations and also the more people would have opportunity to taint or
contaminate the print.
 Fingerprints have been the gold standard for personal identification in the
forensic community for more than one hundred years; still universal in
spite of the discovery of DNA fingerprint. Fingerprints have provided key
evidence in countless cases of serious crime. When it comes to crime,
criminals try to cover up evidence which is within their reach. But
fingerprints are something which cannot be curtained up easily and because
of which; it plays an important role in solving a crime.

 Prints are something which is left over on anything touched and they
cannot be covered up because human fingerprints are unique, difficult to
alter, and durable over the life of an individual, making them suitable as
lifelong markers of Human Identity. Fingerprints can be readily used by
police or other authorities to identify individuals who wish to conceal their
identity, or to identify people who are incapacitated or deceased, as in the
aftermath of a natural disaster. Without prints there would be no evidence
at a crime scene that lasts long enough without disappearing.
✓ Uses of fingerprints are found in ancient Babylonian, Chinese, Persian,
Roman civilization. These prints are considered the oldest friction ridge
skin impressions found to date. The deposition of the prints found in
ancient civilization was not specific and clear as the prints were made
intentionally or accidently.

✓ Fingerprints were found in Babylon in clay tabs, seals and pottery in

which the deeds had been written in the second millennium BC. Law
officials used to take the fingerprints of arrested people during the reign of
King Hammurabi (1792–1750) BC in Babylon. These have also been seen
on the walls of Egyptian tombs, Greek and Chinese potteries and also in
bricks and tiles found in ancient Babylon and Rome.
✓ In the period of Chinese Dynasty, fingerprints as well as hand and
footprints were collected and used as forensic evidence. By 650, and
before 851 CE, Arab merchant Abu Zayd Hasan witnessed fingerprints as
a means of authentification. The famous Persian physician Rashed-al-Din
Hamadani (1247--1318 AD) refers to the Chinese practice of identifying
people via their fingerprints and commented that ‘Experience shows that
no two individuals have fingerprints exactly alike'. Japan also allowed its
illiterate citizens to use fingerprints as the signature in divorce papers by
702.

✓ Friction ridge skin was first described in details by Dr Nehemiah Grew in

1684. In 1877 Sir William Harschel in India started to use fingerprints on
contracts and deeds and registering prisoners. Later fingerprint bureau was
established in Kolkata. Azizul Haque and Hem Chandra Bose were two
Indian fingerprint experts who primarily developed a Fingerprint
Classification System, named after their supervisor and it was known as
Henry Classification System.

✓ Sir Francis Galton then further worked on it and published details on

fingerprint analysis and identification and showed that chance of false
positive fingerprint was about 1 in 64 billion people. Argentina became
the first country to rely solely on fingerprints as a method of
individualization. Nowadays, it is used worldwide to recognize individual
in any matter of disputes and questions in the premises of the Court.

✓ 2019 - World's Largest Database: The Unique Identification Authority of

India is the world's largest fingerprint system using fingerprint, face and
iris biometric records. India's Unique Identification project is also known
as Aadhaar. Aadhaar is a voluntary program, with the goal of providing
reliable National ID documents to most of estimated India's 1.25 billion
residents.
The judiciary and public took some time to believe in the importance of
fingerprints as scientific aid, but the same is now recognized throughout the
world. The fingerprint as evidence plays a major role because of the
following features:

The fingers have papillary ridges and which have complex patterns
differing from one another. The patterns which are found not only vary
from one individual to other instead they are different and unique within an
individual. Duplication of the patterns has never been observed; nor
expected.

Fingerprints are of permanent nature and they remain same throughout the
life of an individual. The ridges which are found on the fingers appear
before birth i.e. during the third, fourth month of pregnancy. Even the
fingerprints remain after death of an individual until the first layer of the
skin i.e. epidermal layer is destroyed by fire, insects, putrefaction or by any
other creatures. Even it is not possible to remove the epidermal layer by any
surgery neither possible to destroy the ridges by rubbing, cutting, or by
burning. Fingerprints are the nature identity card given to each individual.

Fingerprints are of Universal Nature which means all individuals carry this
medium of identification. A criminal uses his hands in committing any
crime and hence leaves marks on the scene of occurrence or on any object,
which come in contact with his hands while committing the crime. Hence,
there are chances of occurrence of fingerprints in all crimes. There are many
criminals who use gloves while committing crime and in these situations no
fingerprints can be identified.
Imitation of fingerprints cannot happen. People have attempted but
successful forgery of fingerprints is not reported so far. The investigating
officer and experts can identify this; the advancement of science may bring
forgery still closer to perfection but complete success is extremely difficult.

Classification of fingerprints can be done easily because everyone has

different pattern of their ridges; hence different fingerprints. Records of
millions and millions of persons can be classified and retrieved when
needed.
 Technology and innovation:
Through the AFIS gateway, users receive the results of their checks very
quickly:

• For individuals who are unknown in the database, this takes only a few
minutes (automatic search)
• For individuals known in the database, this takes about an hour (semi-
automatic search)
• For unidentified latent prints from a crime scene, this takes about an hour
(manual process)
The automated process means the database can make more than 3,000
comparisons per day. The system is also capable of searching and filing
palm prints.
New ABIS (automated biometric identification system) technology will be
implemented in the future to enable faster and more accurate searches. It will
also integrate with a new biometric hub to allow a streamlined search across
all INTERPOL forensic databases. This will save valuable time and reveal
connections that could otherwise go unnoticed.
 What is Fingerprint Identification?
• Fingerprint identification is one of the most well-known and publicized
biometrics. Because of their uniqueness and consistency over time,
fingerprints have been used for identification for over a century, more
recently becoming automated (i.e. a biometric) due to advancements in
computing capabilities. Fingerprint identification is popular because of the
inherent ease in acquisition, the numerous sources (10 fingers) available for
collection, and their established use and collections by law enforcement and
immigration.

• The practice of using fingerprints as a method of identifying individuals has

been in use since the late nineteenth century when Sir Francis Galton
defined some of the points or characteristics from which fingerprints can be
identified. These “Galton Points” are the foundation for the science of
fingerprint identification, which has expanded and transitioned over the past
century. Fingerprint identification began its transition to automation in the
late 1960s along with the emergence of computing technologies. With the
advent of computers, a subset of the Galton Points, referred to as minutiae,
has been utilized to develop automated fingerprint technology.

• A fingerprint usually appears as a series of dark lines that represent the

high, peaking portion of the friction ridge skin, while the valley between
these ridges appears as white space and are the low, shallow portion of the
friction ridge skin. Fingerprint identification is based primarily on the
minutiae, or the location and direction of the ridge endings and bifurcations
(splits) along a ridge path.
One of the most common methods for discovering and collecting latent
fingerprints is by dusting a smooth or nonporous surface with fingerprint
powder (black granular, aluminum flake, black magnetic, etc.). If any prints
appear, they are photographed as mentioned above and then lifted from the
surface with clear adhesive tape. The lifting tape is then placed on a latent
lift card to preserve the print. However, fingerprint powders can
contaminate the evidence and ruin the opportunity to perform other
techniques that could turn up a hidden print or additional information.
Therefore, investigators may examine the area with an alternate light
source or apply cyanoacrylate (super glue) before using powders.

Alternate Light Source (ALS): It is becoming more commonplace for

investigators to examine any likely surfaces (doors, doorknobs, windows,
railings, etc.) with an alternate light source. These are laser or LED devices
that emit a particular wavelength, or spectrum, of light. Some devices have
different filters to provide a variety of spectra that can be photographed or
further processed with powders or dye stains. For example, investigators
may use a blue light with an orange filter to find latent prints on desks,
chairs, computer equipment or other objects at the scene of a break-in.
Using a fluorescent dye stain and an orange alternate light source helps this latent
print appear clearly so that it can be documented. (Courtesy of Scott Campbell,
Ron Smith & Associates).

Use of various alternate light sources may help enhance the appearance of a
fingerprint. (Courtesy of Scott Campbell, Ron Smith & Associates).
 Investigators often perform cyanoacrylate
(superglue) processing, or fuming, of a surface before applying powders or
dye stains. This process, typically performed on non-porous surfaces,
involves exposing the object to cyanoacrylate vapors. The vapors (fumes)
will adhere to any prints present on the object allowing them to be viewed
with oblique ambient light or a white light source.

Super glue fumes adhere to latent fingerprints on the neck of a glass bottle.
(Courtesy of Scott Campbell, Ron Smith & Associates).
 Porous surfaces such as paper are typically
processed with chemicals, including ninhydrin and physical developer, to
reveal latent fingerprints. These chemicals react with specific components of
latent print residue, such as amino acids and inorganic salts. Ninhydrin
causes prints to turn a purple color, which makes them easily photographed.
DFO (1,2-diazafluoren-9-one) is another chemical used to locate latent
fingerprints on porous surfaces; it causes fingerprints to fluoresce, or glow,
when they are illuminated by bluegreen light.

Reacts with amino acids in the fingerprint to stain the fingerprint pattern deep
blue or purple on paper and other porous surfaces.
Developed as a safer, cheaper alternative to 1,8-diazafluoren-9one, which was
popularly used to develop fingerprints on porous surfaces. Both reagents
make fingerprints glow when hit by certain wavelengths of light.
 The three basic patterns of fingerprint ridges are the arch, loop, and whorl:

Arch: The ridges enter from one side of the finger, rise in the center
forming an arc, and then exit the other side of the finger.

Loop: The ridges enter from one side of a finger, form a curve, and then
exit on that same side.

Whorl: Ridges form circularly around a central point on the finger.

Scientists have found that family members often share the same general
fingerprint patterns, leading to the belief that these patterns are
inherited.

Features of fingerprint ridges, called minutiae, include:

: The abrupt end of a ridge

: A single ridge dividing in two
Short or independent ridge: A ridge that commences, travels a short distance
and then ends
: A single small ridge inside a short ridge or ridge ending
that is not connected to all other ridges
Lake or ridge enclosure: A single ridge that bifurcates and reunites shortly
afterward to continue as a single ridge
: A bifurcation with a short ridge branching off a longer ridge
: A short ridge that runs between two parallel ridges : A
Y-shaped ridge meeting
: A circle in the ridge pattern.
 Detecting invisible fingerprints is an important task in forensic science, a
branch of science that helps criminal investigations by collecting and
analyzing evidence from crime scenes. Each fingerprint pattern is unique to a
specific person, and therefore a very reliable way of identifying a suspect.
There are different types of fingerprints that can be left behind: an imprint in
a soft surface, such as wax or soap; a patent fingerprint, visible to the naked
eye, such as those resulting from dirty hands; and latent fingerprints, which
are invisible.

:
• A glass or smooth metal surface (where you have permission to test for
finger prints!)
• Raw cacao powder if your test surface is light; baby powder if it is dark
• White paper if your test surface is light; black paper if it is dark
• A small bowl
• Clear tape
• A fine brush with soft bristles, such as a makeup brush
• Dust cloth
• Water
• Soap
• Hand lotion
  Pour a little of the cacao or baby powder into a small bowl.

• Wipe the smooth glass or metal surface that you are using for your
experiment very thoroughly with the dust cloth.

:
• Choose one finger of one of your hands and press it firmly onto the clean,
smooth surface. Remember where you put it on the surface.
• Dip your brush carefully into the cacao or baby powder. (If your fingerprint
is on a dark surface, use the baby powder; if on a light one, cacao.) Only
the tips of the bristles should be covered with powder. Then, tap the brush
to remove any excess powder.
• Gently sweep the brush carefully over the area where you put your
fingerprint. Make sure to not apply too much pressure so that you do not
wipe the print away. If necessary, add more powder to the brush, but be
careful not to add too much.
• When you are done, gently blow off excess powder from the surface and
check your result.
• Use a piece of clear tape and carefully press the tape down onto the surface
on top of the developed fingerprint. Peel the tape off and transfer the
fingerprint onto a piece of paper. (If you used dark cacao, use white paper;
for baby powder, use black.)
• Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. Then, repeat the
steps with the same finger you chose before.
• Finally, apply some hand lotion and repeat the fingerprint steps again.
• Once you have transferred all your fingerprints onto a piece of paper,
compare your results.
 :
On a smooth surface such as glass or metal, fingerprints tend to stick very
well. With your unwashed hands, you should have been able to make your
fingerprint visible with either cacao or baby powder. Just a little powder
applied with a brush should be enough to reveal your fingerprint. If you
apply too much powder, however, the fine details of your print might have
gotten lost. When you press too hard onto the surface with the brush, the
fingerprint will be wiped away—so you have to be careful when treating the
surface with the powder.

Your freshly washed hands have much less skin oil and sweat because they
have been washed away with the soap and water. This results in a much less
pronounced fingerprint. You might have had difficulties in collecting this
fingerprint or may not have found one at all. On the other hand, if you apply
hand lotion, which contains lots of oil and fat, this will make your fingertips
much stickier, leading to a much more pronounced print. You should have
seen a big fat fingerprint once you applied the powder to the surface where
had you pressed your finger. If you compare all the prints you collected, the
one with hand lotion should be most visible whereas the impression with
your washed hands should be barely visible.

Clean out your brush, wipe your fingerprinted surfaces with the dust cloth
and dispose of the used baby or cacao powder in the trash.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-2463-fingerprints-a-
forensic-tool-for-criminal-investigation.html

https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Forensics/Fingerprints

https://www.cacilawyer.com/problems-with-fingerprint-identification.html

https://pslcws/macrog/kidsmac/firehouse/arson/fbiprint.htm

https://scientificamerican.com/artide/the-hidden-data-in-your-fingerprints/

https://cacilawyer.com/problems-with-fingerprint-identification.html

https://biometricupdate.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint

https://://cen.acs.org/analytical-chemistry/forensic-science/Fingerprints-just-
patterns-re-chemical/97/i10