FORENSIC

CHEMISTRY AND
TOXICOLOGY
Q and A
Adopted & Presented by
DR. MARIO C. ROSETE
ORGANIZER & TRAINER OF FORENSIC SCIENCE
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
A branch of science which deals with the
application of chemistry in the identification of
physical evidence.
A. Chemistry
B. Toxicology
C. Forensic Chemistry
D. Forensic Toxicology
The father of modern chemistry is _____.
A. Antoine Lavoisier
B. Hippocrates
C. Paulus Zacchias
D. Oiram Etesor

Hippocrates – Father of Medicine

Paulus Zacchias – Father of Forensic Medicine
Mario Rosete – your lecturer for today
A professional chemist who analyzes evidence that is
brought in from crime scenes and reaches a conclusion
based on tests is a _____.
A. Chemist
B. Toxicologist
C. Forensic Toxicologist
D. Forensic Scientist
It is the plasma from which the clotting proteins
have been removed.
A. Serum
B. Plasma
C. RBC
D. WBC
What do you call the fluid portion of anticoagulated blood
which is rich in fibrinogen and is composed of 55% of the
whole blood?
A. Serum
B. Plasma
C. RBC
D. WBC
Composition of blood

1. Serum - plasma from which the clotting proteins have

been removed.

2. Plasma – the fluid portion of anticoagulated blood

which is rich in fibrinogen. About 55% of whole blood
is blood plasma.
The blood that defends the body against harmful
bacteria and microorganisms is _____.
A. Red Blood Cells (RBC) or Erythrocytes
B. White Blood Cells (WBC) or Leukocytes
C. Platelets or Thrombocytes
D. Cells and Tissues
 Composition of Blood

1. Red Blood Cells (RBC) or Erythrocytes - Transports

oxygen.

2. White Blood Cells (WBC) or Leukocytes - Defend the

body against harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

3. Platelets or Thrombocytes - Plays a major role in

homeostasis (control of bleeding) by plugging up a
breach in a vessel.
Kind of blood with bright red in color
because of the presence of oxygen and is
carried away from the heart.

A. Arterial blood
B. Venous blood
C. Veins blood
D. Capillary blood
Another kind of blood with dark red in color
because of the presence of carbon dioxide and is
carried towards the heart.

A. Arterial blood
B. Venous blood
C. Veins blood
D. Capillary blood
Blood accounts for ____of the human body
weight?
A. 60%
B. 65%
C. 70%
D. 75%
Characteristics of Blood

1. Color. Bright red for the arterial blood and dark red for the
venous blood.

2. Volume. Blood accounts for 70% of the human body weight.

3. Viscosity. Blood is 4-5x thicker than water.

4. Specific Gravity. Blood has an average density of approximately

1060 kg/m³, very close to pure water's density of 1000 kg/m3

5. Reaction. The normal pH of blood is in the range of 7.35 - 7.45.

What test where the end point color for the
presence of blood is peacock blue green.
A. Benzidine Test
B. Guaiacum Test
C. Phenolphthalein Test
D. Leukomalachite Green Test
What test is conducted where the endpoint color for the
presence of blood is Permanganate.
A. Benzidine Test
B. Guaiacum Test
C. Phenolphthalein Test
D. Leukomalachite Green Test
The result is blue color if blood is present. It gives a false
positive result to saliva, pus, bile, rust, iron, milk,
potatoes, perspiration, gluten gum acacia and nasal
discharge.
A. Benzidine Test
B. Guaiacum Test
C. Phenolphthalein Test
D. Leukomalachite Green Test
It is the most sensitive test for blood where an intense
blue is produced immediately if blood is present. It gives
false positive result to sputum, pus, plant juices, formalin
and bentonite.
A. Benzidine Test
B. Guaiacum Test
C. Phenolphthalein Test
D. Leukomalachite Green Test
 Remember, all of these are
Preliminary Tests for Blood
1. Benzidine Test
= intense blue
2. Guaiacum Test
= blue
3. Phenolphthalein Test
= Permanganate.
4. Leukomalachite Green Test.
= peacock blue green.
Ferrous iron from hemoglobin reacts with pyridine
to produce red feathery crystals of pyridine
ferroprotoporphyrin.
A. Teichmann Test
B. Takayama Test
C. Wet Mount Preparation
D. Fix Stain Preparation
Consists of a solution of potassium bromide, potassium chloride
and potassium iodide in glacial acetic acid, and is heated to react
with hemoglobin.  The reaction first converts the hemoglobin to
hemin, and then the halides react with the hemin to form
characteristic brownish-yellow rhomboid crystals.
A. Teichmann Test
B. Takayama Test
C. Wet Mount Preparation
D. Fix Stain Preparation
Blood groups were first discovered in 1900
by ___?
A. Karl Landsteiner
B. Paulus Zacchias
C. Reeljez Tecenvi
D. None of the foregoing
Karl Landsteiner (German scientist) - isolated and
recognized two separate antigen, which he called “A” and
“B”.

He termed “anti-A” the antibody that reacted with the “A”

antigen.

The antibody that reacted with “B” antigen is called “Anti-

B”.
A person who have “A” antigen on their red cells
which showed agglutination with “anti-A” belongs
to ____.
A. Group A
B. Group B
C. Group O
D. Group AB
Individuals who have “B” antigen on their red cells
which showed agglutination with “Anti-B” is
belonging to _____.

A. Group A
B. Group B
C. Group O
D. Group AB
Individuals who have neither of the two antigens
on their red cells. Their cells showed no
agglutination with either “anti-A” or “anti-B”.

A. Group A
B. Group B
C. Group O
D. Group AB
 Remember:
Groups A, B & O were recognized in 1901 by Karl
Landsteiner.

While Group AB was discovered in 1902 by his

students, Von Decastello and Sturli.

Four Blood Groups

1. Group A
2. Group B
3. Group O
4. Group AB
The determination of the red cell agglutinogens by testing red cells with
antisera (commercially prepared of known specificity, avidity and specific
agglutinin titer).
A. Cell typing
B. Serum typing
C. Forward/direct typing
D. Either A or C

Two Methods of Blood Grouping

1. Cell Typing (Forward or Direct Typing)
Anti-A serum. Color blue
Anti-B serum. Color yellow

2. Serum Typing (Reverse or Indirect Typing) - Determination of the

antibodies in the serum using red cells of known specificity.
Semen-Related Questions
An organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid,
which usually contains spermatozoa.
A. Spermatozoa
B. Sperm
C. Orgasm
D. Viscous fluid
A person incapable of bearing an offspring is
referred to as _____.
A. Sterile
B. Azospermia
C. Oligospermia
D. Kapuycia
The complete cessation or non-production of
sperm cells is suffering from _____.
A. Pirmi ania
B. Azospermia
C. Oligospermia
D. Necrospermia
The decrease in the number of sperm cells as
compared to normal count is known as _____.
A. Azospermia
B. Oligospermia
C. Necrospermia
D. Pagodnia
What do you call the a matured male reproductive
cell which serves to fertilize the mature ovum of
the female.
A. Spermatozoa
B. Sperm
C. Orgasm
D. Viscous fluid
Gunpowder-Related Questions
Generally, what do you call a pyrotechnic
composition which is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal
and potassium nitrate that burns rapidly,
producing volumes of hot solids and gases.
A. Black powder
B. White powder
C. High powder
D. Gunpowder
Gunpowder is also known as ____:
A. Powder charge
B. Propellant
C. Saltpeter
D. All of the above
What is that gunpowder where standard
ingredients are potassium nitrate (75%),
sulfur (10%), charcoal (15%).
A. Black powder
B. White powder
C. Smokeless powder
D. Gunpowder
The most powerful of all propellants is
known as _____.
A. Black powder
B. White powder
C. Smokeless powder
D. Gunpowder
What do you call the decomposition of gases, and the
consequent violent increase of pressure usually causing
a loud sound.
A. Explosion
B. Detonation
C. Explosive
D. Bombing
What is that violent explosion resulting from the
instantaneous decomposition or combustion of unstable
compounds such as nitroglycerine, TNT (trinitrotoluene),
or mercury fulminate?
A. Explosion
B. Detonation
C. Explosive
D. Bombing
Any substance that may cause an explosion by its
sudden decomposition or combustion is a _____.
A. Detonation
B. Gunpowder
C. Explosive
D. Explosion
What test is used to determine whether a person has
fired a gun?
A. Paraffin test
B. Precipitin test
C. Takayama test
D. Residue test

Blue speck color – Reaction of the nitrates with the

diphenylamine reagent.
Hair-Related Questions
What is that outgrowth of protein and found only on
mammals?
A. Scalp
B. Root
C. Hair
D. Fur
Human scalp hair grows at an average rate of _____ per
week.
A. 2 mm
B. 2.5 mm
C. 3 mm
D. 3.5 mm
Beard hair grows with a rate of _____ per day.
A. 3.5 mm
B. 4.0 mm
C. 4.5 mm
D. 0.4 mm

0.4 x 7 days = 2.8 mm per week

Therefore, beard grows faster than scalp hair with
2.5 mm per week.
This is the hair that develops on an unborn baby. It
begins to grow about three months after the baby's
conception. The hairs are fine and soft, and they grow all
over the baby's body. They all grow at the same rate, so
the hairs are the same length.
A. Lanugo hair
B. Vellus hair
C. Terminal hair
D. Pubic hair
Are short hairs, only a centimeter or two long, and
contain little or no pigment.
A. Lanugo hair
B. Vellus hair
C. Terminal hair
D. Pubic hair

Vellus hair - The follicles that produce them do not

have oil glands (often called sebaceous glands), and
never produce any other kind of hairs.
Refers to the long hair that grow on the head and in
many people on the body, arms and legs too.
A. Lanugo hair
B. Vellus hair
C. Terminal hair
D. Pubic hair
The appendage of the skin refers to _____.
A. Fibers
B. Hair
C. Semen
D. Blood
The portion of hair embedded on the skin _____.
A. Root
B. Tip end
C. Shaft
D. Some of the above
Portion above the surface of the skin.
A. Root
B. Tip end
C. Shaft
D. Some of the above
Thickest layer of the shaft responsible for shade
of color of the hair.
A. Cortex or the wall
B. Medulla
C. Cuticles
D. None
The central canal of the hair.
A. Cortex or the wall
B. Medulla
C. Cuticles
D. None
Shaft consist of three main parts
1. Cortex or the wall- thickest layer of the shaft
responsible for shade of color of the hair.

2. Medulla- the central canal of the hair. It runs

through the cortex.

3. Cuticles- the scaly covering of the shaft.

Glass-Related Questions
It is an inorganic product of fusion which has been cooled
to a rigid condition without crystallizing.
A. Fiber
B. Plastic
C. Glass
D. Textile

Quartz sand (silica) is used as the main raw material for

commercial glass production.
The faithful representation of an impression made on a
soft surface by the application of a casting material is
____.
A. Moulage
B. Casting
C. Impression
D. Photograph
The manufacturing process by which a liquid material is
(usually) poured into a mold, which contains a hollow
cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify.
A. Moulage
B. Casting
C. Impression
D. Photograph
Made by footprints, tires, and tools can easily be
destroyed during a preliminary crime scene search.
A. Moulage
B. Casting
C. Impression
D. Photograph
The domain of materials science that studies the physical
and chemical behavior of metallic elements is _____.
A. Plastillurgy
B. Metallurgy
C. Petrography
D. Etching
This study focuses on detailed descriptions of
rocks.
A. Plastillurgy
B. Metallurgy
C. Petrography
D. Geology
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
It is the use of toxicology and other disciplines such as
analytical chemistry, pharmacology and clinical chemistry to aid
medico legal investigation of death, poisoning, and drug use.
A. Forensic chemistry
B. Forensic toxicology
C. Forensic Chemistry and toxicology
D. Forensic Medicine
A sample which is quick and easy for a live
subject, and is common among drug testing for
employees and athletes.
A. Urine
B. Blood
C. Hair Sample
D. Oral Fluid
What sample of approximately 10 cm³ is usually
sufficient to screen and confirm most common
toxic substances?
A. Urine
B. Blood
C. Hair Sample
D. Oral Fluid
Type of poisoning wherein there is a prompt and
marked disturbance of functions and death within
short periods and is due to taking a strong poison
in an excessive single dose or several doses at short
intervals.
A. Acute Poisoning
B. Sub-acute Poisoning
C. Chronic Poisoning
D. Severe poisoning
Type of poisoning in which there is a gradual
deterioration of function of tissues and may or may
not result to death.
A. Acute Poisoning
B. Sub-acute Poisoning
C. Chronic Poisoning
D. Severe poisoning
A kind of poisoning where cases of short duration
and extreme violence and may include some
symptoms of chronic poisoning.
A. Acute Poisoning
B. Sub-acute Poisoning
C. Chronic Poisoning
D. Severe poisoning
When poison was given intentionally to kill the victim
it is _____.
A. Accidental
B. Suicidal
C. Homicidal
D. Undetermined
Legal Point of View
1. Accidental – poison was taken without the intention of causing death
2. Suicidal – poison was taken by the victim voluntarily for the purpose
of taking his life
3. Homicidal – poison was given intentionally to kill the victim
4. Undetermined – it can’t be determined how the poison was obtained
and why
A cherry-red color of the blood indicates _____.
A. Poisoning
B. Food poisoning
C. Carbon poisoning
D. Chemical poisoning
Brownish discoloration of the blood suggests the
presence of a toxic substance which produces ___.
A. methemoglobin
B. Hemoglobin
C. Blood poisoning
D. Internal poisoning
Chemical burns around the mouth is a reliable
indication that a ______ poison has been
swallowed.
A. Destructive
B. Corrosive
C. Burning
D. chemical
 Evidence of Poisoning
Before Death
1. Convulsions – nicotine
2. Delirium – hyoscine
3. Extreme drowsiness – opiates, hypnotics
4. Long delayed death – metals
5. Abdominal pain – metals, food poisoning
6. Diarrhea – metals, food poisoning
7. Vomiting – metals, food poisoning
8. Burning of mouth and throat – corrosives, mercury
 Evidence of Poisoning
After Death
1. Livid cherry-red color of a large area – carbon
monoxide, cyanide
2. Very dark face and neck – hypnotics
3. Pupils contracted – opiates
4. Pupils dilated – hyoscine
5. Emaciation – metals
6. Burns around the mouth and nose – strong mineral
acids, strong alkalis
7. Characteristic odors – Phenols (Carbolic acid)
- Peach pits (Cyanide)
- Garlic (Oxalic acid, phosphorous)
 THANK YOU
END OF
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
AND TOXICOLOGY