CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION
FORENSIC SCIENCE
 It is the study and application of

science to matters of law (criminal and

civil)

 Includes the business of providing

timely, accurate, and thorough
information to all levels of decision
makers in our criminal justice system

 Also called criminalistics

FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
 Branch of chemistry dealing with the

application of chemical principles in

the solution of problems/crimes that
arise in connection with the
administration of justice.

 The chemistry applied in the

elucidation of the legal problem .
-plays a very important part in the speedy
investigation and in the administration of
justice.

-this science has an advantage over

extracted confessions, eyewitnesses and
other circumstantial evidence.

-this is regarded as the highest form of

uncontestable and conclusive piece of
evidence with the utmost legal significance.
SCOPE
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
-is the science that deals with the
application of chemical principles in
the solution of problem that arises in
connection with the administration of
justice.
-also includes the study and
examination of deoxyribonucleic acid
or DNA.
 FORENSIC SCIENCE
-deals with the application of chemistry
in the identification of evidence , its
physical and chemical properties.
-it also includes the collection,
preservation, examination and study of
blood, semen, and other body fluids;
-examination of dangerous drugs;
-examination of body fluid to determine
the presence of dangerous drugs;
-alcohol test;
-examination of fake products for unfair
trade competition;
-arson investigation;
-macro etching examination;
-bullet trajectory;
-ultraviolet examination;
-tools and other marks;
-gunshots residues (gunpowder nitrates,
paraffin test; distance determination; and
firearms examination);
-principles and examination of explosives,
hair and textiles fibers;
-gunshots residues (gunpowder nitrates,
paraffin test; distance determination; and
firearms examination);
-principles and examination of explosives,
hair and textiles fibers;
-chemical aspects of document and
examination;
-problems on glass fragments and glass
fracture, moulage, metallurgy and
petrography as applied to crime investigation.
FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY
-deals with examination of human
internal organs, food samples and
water and gastric contents for the
purpose of detecting the presence of
poisonous substance, its dosage,
effects, and treatment.
 PRACTICE OF FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
-the work of forensic chemist is divided into
four stages, namely:
1. Collection or reception of the specimen
2. The actual examination
3. The communication of the results of the
examination
4. Court appearance
 Collection of the specimen to be examined:
-the proper collection, preservation and
transportation of specimens are essential in
the investigation of a crime.
-hence, whenever possible, the chemist
should personally collect all the specimens
necessary for examination.
-this particular stage of a forensic chemist’s
work is essential as questions regarding the
collection, preservation and transportation
of the specimen are raised during trial.
Factors that must be considered when
collecting specimen for examination:

a.Sufficiency of Samples
-the investigators should collect sufficient
amount of specimen for examination.

-this will make the chemist confident that in

case of doubtful result, he or she can still
have enough samples to repeat or to proceed
to the succeeding examinations.
b.Standard for Comparison
-when the evidence in question is located in
or added with foreign substance, a sample of
such foreign substance must be submitted for
analysis.
-for instance, if blood is found on linoleum, a
sample of the unstained linoleum must be
submitted together with the stained portion.
-in cases of adulteration or unfair trade
competition, a genuine sample must be
submitted for comparison.
-in the examination of hair, textile fiber, soil,
etc., standard samples must be submitted for
comparison.
c.Maintenance of Individuality
-each piece of evidence must be
collected and preserved as a separate
sample.

-there must be no mixing or

intermingling of specimen/s collected
from different locations, as well as those
of standard specimen/s
d.Labelling and Sealing
-it is a well-settled rule that evidence will have
no value in court in spite of the good report of
the expert if the specimen cannot be identified
by reason of improper labelling.
-hence, each sample must be labelled properly.
-small fragments should be enclosed in proper
specimen boxes/container and the boxes
should be sealed.
-the label should include information
concerning the nature and source of the sample,
date and time of collection, case number, if any,
and name of the person collecting the sample.
ACTUAL EXAMINATION OF THE SPECIMEN
-the first step in the examination of an article is to
scrutinize it carefully and write down in the
laboratory logbook/record book a complete
description of the external appearance including
the manner in which it is secured and the
particulars of the sealing.
-if possible take a photograph of the specimen
including the inner wrappings and take note of
its descriptions.
-a detailed description of the appearance of the
contents of the package should be noted and
recorded.
-all wrappers should be kept and preserved since
questions concerning them may be raised in
court during trial.
-the second step in the examination is to
measure or weigh the object and all
measurements and weights should be entered
in the laboratory logbook/record book.
-the specimen should the be placed in the
proper container or wrapper and must be kept
in the proper evidence room.

-the third step is the laboratory examination

which consists of the chemical, physical and
confirmatory tests.
COMMUNICATION OF THE RESULTS OF
THE EXAMINATION
-the results of the examination conducted
should be communicated with the
requesting party in the form of a written
report which must include an
enumeration of facts on the specimen
received for examination with detailed
description of the packaging, sealing and
labelling, date of receipt and from whom
it was received, the purpose of the
examination, the finding and conclusion.
COURT APPEARANCE
-the written report of the forensic chemist
is usually supplemented by testimonial
evidence in a later date if the case is
brought to court or the fiscals’ office.
-since the testimonial evidence may be
given weeks, months or even years after
the examination and the written report
have been made, it is not only permissible
but indispensable that the chemist should
refresh his memory by referring to his
laboratory record book before presenting
himself in court.
ROLE OF FORENSIC CHEMIST IN THE
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION:

1.Conducts qualitative and quantitative

determination of abused drugs as well as
volatile substances.

2.Conducts chemical examination of

explosives and/or explosives ingredients.

3.Conducts examination of paraffin cast and

firearms to determine the presence of
gunpowder nitrates.
4.Conducts gunpowder examination on
clothing for possible gunshot range.

5.Conducts chemico-toxicological
examination of human internal organs,
gastric contents, blood, water, food
sample and other substances.

6. Conduct examination of fake

products in cases of unfair trade
competition.
7.Conducts blood alcohol
determinations.

8.Examines urine samples and other

body fluids for the presence of abused
drugs.

9.Conducts researches related to cases

being examined.
10.Testifies and gives expert opinion in court.

11. Gives lectures on forensic chemistry and

chemical-toxicology to various schools,
universities, police training centers and
investigating units.

12.Responds to queries of all investigating

units and render expert opinion on matters
related to the application of chemical
principles for the purpose of assisting
investigators to develop investigative leads.
SIX GOLDEN RULES IN THE PRACTICE OF
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY:

1.GO SLOWLY
-good work cannot be hurried,
therefore, take all the time necessary to
make the case complete no matter how
urgent it may appear.
2.BE THOROUGH
-make careful and minute examination
of everything and do not be satisfied
with a qualitative analysis if a
quantitative one is possible.
-it always pays to do too much rather
than too little and it is difficult to
foresee what will or will not be required
in court.
3.TAKE NOTES
-keep a full and neat clean record of
everything seen and done.
4.CONSULT OTHERS
-many cases will lead the expert into
paths with which he is not familiar and
when this happens he should consult
those who know better.
5.USE IMAGINATION
-an expert with a wide and
uncontrollable imagination is
considered as the most dangerous
creature.
-though his being imaginative is
sometimes useful, an expert witness
does not have to be solely imaginative
but he has to be skilled in the field of
forensic science.
6.AVOID COMPLICATED THEORIES
-the simplest explanation is
fundamentally the right one.
-interpretation of results is often the
most difficult part of the expert’s task
that is why a wide knowledge and
scientific experience are the essential
elements to obtain the right forensic
examination results.
EQUIPMENTS USED IN THE FORENSIC EXAMINATION
HPLC (High Powered Liquid
Chromatography)
-this scientific equipment is used for the
qualitative and quantitative determination
of a volatile or non-volatile compound
based on the chromatographic separation
of its components.
ULTRA VIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETER
-it is used for the qualitative and
quantitative analysis of organic
compounds.
EMIT (Enzyme Multiple Immuno
Assay Technique)
-it is used for screening of abused
urine samples.
SEM (SCANNING ELECTRON
MICROSCOPE)
- this scientific equipment is used
for the physical identification of
various questioned specimens.
FTIR ( Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectroscopy)
-used for the identification of pure
organic substances.
-It identifies organic substances
particularly abused drugs and
explosive ingredients based on their
characteristic functional groups.
 AMPING
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SA
KANUNAY…..