Forensic 1 Learning Guide Yllana Bay View College, Pagadian

MODULE 5 _______________________________________________ GUNPOWDER AND OTHER EXPLOSIVES

Learning Objectives:

1. Determines a person have fired a gun or not.

2. Identifies the type of caliber.
3. Approximates the distance of firing.
4. Determines the probable date of last discharge.
5. Elaborates the type of explosives.
6. Learn the chemical test for gunpowder residue.
7. Demonstrate the location of speck.

Gunpowder is low explosive used as propellant in a gun.

Important of Gunpowder Residue as Evidence in Shooting Cases

1. Determination of the person fired a gun or not.

2. Determination of the approximate distance of firing.
3. Determination of the probable date of last discharge.

Component of Gunshot Residue

1. Cartridge/Bullet Case or empty shell
2. Gunpowder or propellant
3. Lead/Bullet
4. Primer

Composition of Gunpowder
1. Contains up to 23 organic compounds (FBI study)
2. Nitrocellulose

Factors affecting the Presence of Gunpowder or absence of gunpowder residue and its
distribution.

1. Wind velocity (direction of wind)

2. Perspiration
3. Type of ammunition and caliber or gun.
4. Humidity
5. Distance of the muzzle of the gun to the target.
6. Direction of the barrel of the gun.

Schawards (German) First used as the propellant of the gun.

Roger Bacon – First who describe gunpowder and used as explosives. Smokeless
gunpowder

Types of Gunpowder

1. Single-based - when the basic ingredient is nitrocellulose

2. Double-based - nitrocellulose + 1 to 40% nitroglycerine
3. Triple –based - nitrocellulose + nitroglycerine + nitroguanidine

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Type of Gunpowder used in the ammunition of small fire arms

1. Black Powder (discovered by Chinese) (Greeks used at battle fire pots)

Sulfur 10%
Carbon 15%
Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) 75%

When this powder is exploded in open space the following chemical reaction occurs:
2KNO3 +S+C 2N02 + CO2 + K + S

2. Smokeless Powder burn

a. Cellulose Nitrate - C12H14O4(NO3)6 CO2+CO+H2O+H2
b. Glycerol Nitrate – C3H5(NO3)3 CO2+O2 +H2O+O2

Substances giving false positive results

1. Fertilizers 5. Certain cosmetics

2. Explosives 6. Food samples
3. Tobacco 7. Cigarette
4. Urine

Factors Affecting GSR

1. Types of caliber or ammunition 5. Direction of firing

2. Use of gloves 6. Wind direction or velocity
3. Length of the barrel 7. Humidity
4. Age of the gun 8. When 72 hours had already lapped (3days)

Zone (distance) Gunpowder Characteristic

0-2 inches - Singeing - Burning of fibers (torn) gaping hole.

2-8 inches - Smudging - Blackening the area around the bullet hole (dirty surrounding)
8-36 inches - Tattooing - Individual specks of nitrates around the bullet hole visible to the
naked eye. It is a black coarsely peppered pattern.

Classification of the muzzle of the gun to the target is classified into three (3):

1. Direct contact
2. 2 inches to 36 inches away
3. 36 inches away or more

Entrance and Exit holes:

Entrance hole contains gunpowder residue (bullet wipe residue) and slightly burned.
The diameter of entrance hole is smaller than the exit hole.
The exit hole is frayed outward while entrance hole is inward.

Possible locations of Black Powder and Smokeless Powder Exploded

1. Residue of the barrel of the gun.
2. In or around the wound.
3. On the clothing of the person fired upon at close range.

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4. On the exposed surface of the hand of a person.

Chemical Test
1. DPA-Paraffin Test (Diphenylamine-Paraffin Test)
2. Dermal Nitrate Test
3. Lucas Test
4. Paraffin Test- Process of taking of the cast to extract nitrates embedded or implanted on
the skin.
5. Walkers Test-test used if the powder particles are deeply embedded. It is based on the
conversion of nitrates to dye.

Other Methods of Examination

The following are the sophisticated instruments used to determine the gunshot range
residue (GSR)

AAS - Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer

NAA - Neutron Activation analysis
SEM - EDX – Scanning electron Microscope with energy Dispersive X-ray analysis
ECP- -MS - Inductively coupled plasma with Mass Spectrophotometer

Bullet Comparison – is a type of examination using a microscope which is commonly used in

comparison of an empty shell containing characteristic marks from groves of the gun barrel and
firing pin of specific firearms.

EXPLOSIVE

Explosive is a substance or substances that through chemical reaction changes to gaseous

state and release pressure and heat equally in all directions.

It is a compound (TNT-Trinitrotoluene) or a mixture of compound (TNT) and Aluminum

Nitrate by spark/blow or heat changes violent in gaseous state and produce heat, light and
pressure.

Two Types of Explosive (rate burning)

1. Low explosive – slow rate of burning which produces shoving or pushing effect.
Classes:
1. Primer
2. Igniter
3. Propellant

Characteristics:
1. Can be initiated by mechanical shock
2. Primary explosives are friction and heat sensitive
3. Readily ignited when comes in contact with flame or sparks.

2. High Explosive to gaseous state and release pressure and heat equally in all directions.
The speed of its detonation wave equals to 1000mls and pressure equals to thousands of
atmospheres. Such intensity can break a material into fragments long before its
opportunity to move away.

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According to their chemical structure:

a. Organic explosives - nitro component organic compound

1. Carbon nitro (C-NO2) group
2. Nitrate ester (C-O- NO2) group
3. Nitrosamines (C-N-NO2) group

b. Inorganic explosives – these are salt-containing explosives.

According to their application or design:

1. Military explosives
a. C4 - mixtures of RDX = polyisobutylene + di (2-ethylhexy) secabate + fuel oil
b. Amatol - 2,4,6-Trinitrotuluene (TNT) + ammonium Nitrate (AN) mixture
c. Cyclotol - TNT + Ammonium picrate
d. Tritorial - TNT + Aluminum

Some common military explosive

1. Grenade
2. Fuses – used to initiate explosive in any warhead
Two (2) types of fuse

1. Point detonation (PD) – by impact, proximity or delay

2. Variable Time (VT) – detonates when the warhead is at certain distance

from the target.

3. Ammunitions
4. Rockets and Missiles
5. Mines
6. Submunitions
7. Air drop
8. Incendiaries – devise that burn rather than explode
9. Chemical ordnance – simple riot grenade or smoke bomb or as lethal as serine
nerve gas. US type, typically gray with colored bands.

2. Industrial explosives
a. Dynamite – First explosive invented by Albert Nobel. It contains 75% Nitroglycerine
absorbed and desensitized by 25% diatomaceous earth (Kieselguhl/Oxidizer can
be relapsed to increase the energy yields.
b. Ammonium nitrate explosives- (AN –nitro mixture and AN-fuel oil or ANFO)
c. Water explosives –slurries and water gel, explosive emulsions.
d. Home-made or improvised explosive
e. Explosive with limited use

Some common commercial explosive

1. Blasting caps 5. Boosters

2. Explosive with limited use 6. Dynamites
3. Safety fused 7. Slurries or gels
4. Denoting cord 8. Black or smokeless powder

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Three (3) Types of High Explosive

1. Primary high explosive –most sensitive and less powerful high explosive used in initial blasting
caps.
Example: mercury Fulminate, Lead aside
2. Secondary explosive is the second most sensitive and most powerful high explosive used as
detonating.
3. Main charge is the least sensitive and the second most powerful high explosives.
Example: TNT and ANFO

Three types of Explosion

1. Mechanical explosion 2. Chemical Explosion 3. Nuclear explosion

Characteristics of explosion

1. Gaseous 2. Heat 3. Pressure

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SELF ASSESSMENT 101

Test I. Fill out the blanks

__________ 1, The least sensitive and the second most powerful high explosives.
__________ 2. The second most sensitive and most powerful high explosive used as detonation
__________ 3. First explosive invented by Albert Nobel. It contains 75% Nitroglycerine absorbed and
desensitized by 25% diatomaceous earth (Kieselguhl/Oxidizer can be relapsed to increase the
energy yields.
__________ 4. Simple riot grenade or smoke bomb or as lethal as serine nerve gas. US type,
typically gray with colored bands.
__________5. Devise that burns rather than explode.
_________6. A substance or substances that through chemical reaction changes to gaseous
state and release pressure and heat equally in all directions.
__________7. A German first used as the propellant of the gun.
__________8. First who describe gunpowder and used as explosives.
__________9. A type of examination using a microscope which is commonly used in comparison
of an empty shell containing characteristic marks from groves of the gun barrel and firing pin of
specific firearms.
__________10. Process of taking of the cast to extract nitrates embedded or implanted on the skin.

Test II. Essay

1. Explain why gun powder residue help determines a person have fired a gun or not.
2. Discuss the type of caliber that brings a factor in the gun powder residue.
3. Demonstrate the Approximates Zone (distance) Gunpowder Characteristic in the distance
of firing.
4. How can you determine the probable date of last discharge?
5. Elaborate the different type of explosives.
6. Explain how to conduct paraffin test.
7. How important to determine the speck of a gunpowder in the hands of suspect or a person
who have fired a gun?
8. Discuss the chemical reaction of black and smokeless powder.

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Forensic Science 1

Name: ______________________________ Date: ________ Block: ____ Time: _____ Day_____ Score: ______

_________________________________________________________
Module Title

MY REFLECTION 101

After finishing this module you are now going to share your insights about all the things that you have
learned and encountered in this module and during the class discussions. Complete each statement below
as honest as you can.

I have learned that

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

However, I am still confused about

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

I have realized that

________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

I feel that
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________

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YLLANA BAY VIEW COLLEGE

Pagadian City

Forensic (1) Chemistry and Toxicology

Laboratory Activity Report
_____ Semester, School Year _____
Name: _______________________________________________________________ Score: ________________
Group No. ___________ Block: ____________Time ____________ Day: ________ Date: _________________

Experiment No. 8

GUN POWDER
I. Objectives

To study physical and chemical properties of gun powder.

Study the preparation of black powder.
To test the presence of nitrates.

II. Materials

Black powder, smokeless powder, potassium nitrate (KNO3), Sulfur, Carbon, Diphenylamine

III. Procedure

1.Preparation of Black Powder

10% Sulfur
15% Carbon
75% Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)

2.Physical exam
a. Study the color and appearance of the gun powder.
b. Place a small quantity of gun powder and place on the slide and view under the
microscope.

3.Chemical Test
a. Place a small amount of black powder on filter paper and added a few drops of
diphenylamine.
b. Observe the color produce.

IV. Observation

I. Conclusion

II. Drawing

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Forensic 1 Learning Guide Yllana Bay View College, Pagadian

YLLANA BAY VIEW COLLEGE

Pagadian City

Forensic (1) Chemistry and Toxicology

Laboratory Activity Report
_____Semester, School Year _____
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Score: ____________________
Group No. _________ Block: ______Time ___________ Day: _____________ Date: ____________________

Experiment No. 9

PARAFFIN CASTING
Title
I. Objectives

To study the technique of making paraffin cast.

II. Materials
Paraffin wax (mp.46-48 0C), Burner, Absorbent cotton, beaker or casserole, Bond
paper, Tong
III. Procedure
1. Heat the paraffin wax in a container until its melts. Allow to cool for a few minutes so
that it will not burn the skin of the subject.
2. Let the subject wash the hands with water without using any soap or detergent. Wipe
the hands of the subject with clean absorbent cotton.
3. Let the subject face his hand with on a clean sheet of bond paper with the palm facing
down and the finger close together.
4. Using the spoon or tong with cotton four the melted paraffin wax on the hands of the
subject from the thumbs and index fingers and the dorsal portion of the little finger side
of the hand.
5. Cover the hands and fingers thoroughly with the paraffin wax on the hands and place
a thin layer of absorbent cotton to reinforce the paraffin wax.
6. Four another layer of paraffin wax until the absorbent cotton has totally absorbed the
wax.
7. Allow the paraffin cast to cool and solidify before feeling them off.
8. When cooled direct the subject to remove his hand by moving his finger slowly out from
the cast.
9. Place on the bond paper the name of the subject, time and date, technician who took
the cast, witnesses on the either left and right hand.
10. Place another bond paper on the top of his paraffin cast and staple together.
11. Place the paraffin wax or cast inside the envelop or a box for proper presentation and
send to the laboratory.
IV. Observation

Guide Question
1. Why are subject handed wash before making the cast.
2. What is the purpose of placing on the thin layer of cotton between the two-paraffin
layer?
3. Why paraffin allowed to drop from a certain height and not just rubbed over the skin?

VI. Conclusion

VII. Drawing

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