BOCATO, JESSA MAE THOMAS

BS CRIMINOLOGY 2-I

Activity 1: Introduction to Forensic Chemistry

1. Historically, how did forensic chemistry develop? What did it emerge from ?
2. List some personal protection equipment to wear when handling physical evidence.
3. Which laboratories perform testing on forensic evidence?
4. Explain the difference between class and individual characteristics. Give an example of
each.
5. Define the three categories of SWGDRUG testing.
6. Discuss the difference between chemical analysis and forensic chemical analysis .
7. Use the scientific method to develop a theory based on an observation of your choice.
8. Describe the three phases of matter.
9. Explain the difference between a pure substance and a pure mixture.
10. Discuss the difference between a homogeneous and heterogeneous mixture.
11. Identify each of the following mixtures as homogeneous or heterogeneous:
(a) Italian dressing
(b) Saltwater
(c) Steel
(d) Soil
(e) Spoiled milk
12. Define a physical property.
13. Discuss how physical properties are related to physical changes.
14. Explain to members of the jury the difference between a physical property and a chemical
property.
15. Identify each of the following as a chemical change or a physical change:
(a) Burning paper
(b) Melting butter
(c) An explosion
(d) Sublimation of dry ice
BOCATO, JESSA MAE THOMAS
BS CRIMINOLOGY 2-I

1. 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.

2. These are some personal protection equipment to wear when handling physical
evidence: gloves, safety glasses and shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, or
coveralls, vests and full body suits. There are two primary reasons for wearing gloves
while processing a crime scene. One is to protect us from the evidence. The other is to
protect the evidence from us. To protect the evidence, we wear gloves to avoid placing
our fingerprints on evidence and to avoid cross contaminating the evidence.

3. A forensic science laboratory, or crime lab, contains specialized tools to analyze evidence
collected at crime scenes and standard scientific lab equipment. Scientists in a forensic
science laboratory analyze various evidence such as blood and other human tissues,
finger, hand, footprints, chemical substances such as illegal drugs, and materials retrieved
from firearms or explosions. A forensic science laboratory can access databases that
allow them to match evidence from current crime scenes with specimens from previous
crimes. Forensic laboratory, is a facility where analyses are performed
on evidence generated by crimes or, sometimes, civil infractions. Crime laboratories can
investigate physical, chemical, biological, or digital evidence and often employ
specialists in a variety of disciplines, including
behavioral forensic science, forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, crime-scene
investigation, and ballistics.
4. Evidence that possesses class characteristics may be referred to as class evidence.
Similarly, evidence that possesses individual characteristics may be referred to as
individual evidence. Both class and individual evidence have value; however, it typically
takes considerably more class evidence (and time for collection and analysis) to have the
same weight and significance as a single item of individual evidence.
5. Criminal cases based solely on class evidence are more difficult to prove and require
more work, but the results can be just as significant. To put it in perspective, in terms of
probative value in the courtroom, it usually takes a considerable combination of class
evidence to equate to a single item of individual evidence. CLASS I: Biology, chemistry,
DNA and Toxicology and Drugs Laboratory. CLASS II: Fingerprints, Trace evidence,
striation, materials, Serology

6. Chemical analysis can be used to determine a chemical’s identity or the identity of its
components, such as understanding why a product gives off a strong smell or locating
what an organic contaminant is made of. The type of specimen and need defines which
type of instrumentation to use, as well as which type of chemical testing to include.
BOCATO, JESSA MAE THOMAS
BS CRIMINOLOGY 2-I

Chemical analysis, which relies on the use of measurements, is divided into two
categories depending on the manner in which the assays are performed. Classical
analysis, also termed wet chemical analysis, consists of those analytical techniques that
use no mechanical or electronic instruments other than a balance. The method usually
relies on chemical reactions between the material being analyzed (the analyte) and
a reagent that is added to the analyte. Wet techniques often depend on the formation of a
product of the chemical reaction that is easily detected and measured. For example, the
product could be coloured or could be a solid that precipitates from a solution.

7. Through testing and experimentation, the scientific method establishes facts in an

unbiased manner. Making an observation, formulating a hypothesis, making a prediction,
carrying out an experiment, and then evaluating the findings are the fundamental steps.
The scientific method's principles can be used in various contexts, including business,
technology, and scientific study. My theory is humans learned how to talk because of the
sound of the nature. I observed that the sound of our voice is similar to the sound of the
wind. God created the nature first before humans. I conclude that we just applied the
sounds we hear ad adapt to it. Based on past theories like the bow-wow theory; Language
began as imitations of natural sounds -- moo, choo-choo, crash, clang, buzz, bang,
meow...

8. There are three primaries, or fundamental, phases of matter: solids, liquids, and gases.
Every single one differs in terms of stability and density. The link between each
phase's atoms controls how stable it is. That phase of matter is more stable the clos er
the link between its atoms is. The most stable state of matter is a solid, followed by a
liquid and then a gas. Solids don't adopt the shape of their container; instead, they have
a distinct shape. Gases and liquids both take on the shape of their container since
neither has a fixed shape. Again, the link between the atoms of liquids and gases is
what prevents it from having a clear structure. The most stable type of matter is a
solid. Compared to liquids and gases, solids are more stable. Liquids make up the
second phase of matter. Liquids don't have a distinct shape. While more orderly than
gases, liquids are less orderly than solids. Moreover, liquids adopt the form of their
container. Most liquids have excellent conductivity. Most liquids work well as solvents
as well. In liquids, some solids can float due to their density. A solid, flo ats on the
surface of a liquid if its density is less than that of the liquid. The solid sinks in liquids
if it has a higher density than the liquid. The third and final fundamental phase of
matter is gas. Of the three phases of matter, gases have the least order. The extremely
weak link between atoms in gases causes them to take the shape of their container.
Therefore, the density of gases is relatively low. The typical liquid is 1000 times
smaller than the average gas. Temperature and pressure are just two of the many
factors that affect the amount of gas.
BOCATO, JESSA MAE THOMAS
BS CRIMINOLOGY 2-I

9. The difference between a pure substance and a pure mixture is that a pure substance
consists only of one element or one compound. a mixture consists of two or more
different substances, not chemically joined together. Substance is a form of matter that
has definite composition and distinct properties. While mixture is a combination of
substances. Because mixes contain several things that are physically mixed rather than
chemically, they differ from pure substances like elements and compounds. In a
combination, each component maintains its individuality.

10. There are two categories of mixtures: homogeneous and heterogeneous. The content
and appearance of a homogenous mixture are both consistent. Visual distinction
between the components of a homogenous mixture is impossible. A heterogeneous
mixture, on the other hand, consists of two or more distinct constituents that can even
be easily separated.

11. Identify each of the following mixtures as homogeneous or heterogeneous:

(a) Italian dressing – heterogeneous. Oil and vinegar are the main ingredients in Italian
salad dressing. Since oil and vinegar don't mix Italian salad dressing would be a
heterogeneous mixture.
(b) Saltwater – homogeneous. A homogeneous mixture is a mixture in which the
composition is uniform throughout the mixture. The salt water described above is
homogeneous because the dissolved salt is evenly distributed throughout the entire salt
water sample.
(c) Steel – homogeneous. Homogeneous mixtures refer to compositions that are the
same throughout. Hence, it is a homogeneous mixture of solids as steel is uniform in its
composition.
(d) Soil – heterogeneous. Soil is made up of varieties of materials that have different
properties and compositions.
(e) Spoiled milk – heterogeneous. There are two distinct immiscible liquid phases
present, which is why milk is a heterogeneous mixture.

12. A physical property is a property of matter that can be measured or observed without
changing the identity of the matter. When matter undergoes a physical change, it is
usually reversible. For example, the substance water can be physically changed to ice by
freezing the water molecules, or to water vapor by boiling the water molecules. Freezing
or heating water does not change the properties of the water itself, only its physical
properties.

13.
14. Physical or chemical properties are two categories for measurable characteristics of
matter. Only through altering a substance's chemical identity can a chemical attribute be
seen. A physical change involves a change in physical properties. Examples of physical
properties include melting, transition to a gas, change in strength, change in durability,
changes in crystal form, change in structure, shape, size, color, volume, and density. In
BOCATO, JESSA MAE THOMAS
BS CRIMINOLOGY 2-I

other words, a chemical reaction must be carried out in order to observe a chemical
property. These characteristic measures the likelihood of a chemical transformation.
whereas a physical property is a characteristic of a substance that can be seen or
quantified without altering its chemical makeup. In summary, chemical property is a
substance's capacity to become something else. While physical characteristics are those
that remain unchanged chemically.

15. Identify each of the following as a chemical change or a physical change:

(a) Burning paper – chemical change. Yes, burning paper represents a chemical change
as it forms a new substance with different properties ie; ash.
(b) Melting butter – physical change. No chemical bonds are broken or formed in
melting butter, so it is not a chemical change. The melting process is only a physical
change, the change of state from solid to liquid.
(c) An explosion – chemical change. An explosion of fireworks foe example. The
explosion of fireworks is an example of chemical change. During a chemical change,
substances are changed into different substances.
(d) Sublimation of dry ice – chemical change. The formation of a new substance,
"fog," suggests that there has been a chemical transformation. Yet, dry ice actually
changes physically when it sublimates directly from the solid to the gaseous state. The
carbon dioxide is still there; it just goes through a phase change and turns into an
invisible gas.

References:
https://criminologyboardexamreviewer.weebly.com/forensic-chemistry-and-toxicology.html
https://hau.instructure.com/courses/4139/files/1401307/download?wrap=1

https://www.grin.com/document/163975
https://www.labcompare.com/Forensic-Laboratory-Equipment/
https://examples.yourdictionary.com/basic-difference-between-physical-and-chemical-
properties.html