FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

Presented by:
ELYSON M TALATTAD, MS Chem.
Senior Police Officer 2 LET / Criminologist

Order of Presentation
Definition
Types of Examination
Work of Forensic Officer
Evidence
Forms of Evidence
Witness
Drugs
Drug Test
Gunshot Residue
Explosives
Blood and Blood Stain
Semen and Seminal Stain
Fiber / Hair . . .

- Is defined as that branch of

chemistry which deals with the
application of chemical principles in
the solution of problems that arise
in connection with the
administration of justice.

TYPES OF EXAMINATION
Quantitative determines the concentration
of a given solution
Qualitative - determines the nature of the
substance.

WORK OF A FORENSIC OFFICER

1. Collection of specimen to be examined.
Includes:
a. Sufficiency of sample
b. Standard for comparison
c. Maintenance of individuality
d. Labeling and sealing

2. Actual examination of the results.

3. Communication of the results of examination.
4. Court Appearance.

What is Evidence?
A means sanction by law of ascertaining in
a judicial proceedings the truth respecting a
matter of fact.

FORMS OF EVIDENCE
1.

Physical these are tangible objects that are real,

direct, and not circumstancial.
Ex: gun, trace particles found at the crime scene, property recovered,
fingerprint, shoeprints, handwriting, etc.

2.

Testimonial a kind of evidence that comes to court

through witness speaking under oath or affirmation.
Ex: expert witness, eyewitness, hearsay witness, character, habit, or custom
witnes.

3.

Demonstrative these are types of real evidence

used to illustrate, demonstrate, or recreate a tangible
thing.
Ex: sketched of the crime scene or other constructed-to-scale models.

4.

Documentary this is usually any kind of writing,

sound or video recording.
Ex: transcript of a telephone intercept, titles, certificates, diplomas, etc.

WHAT IS WITNESS
KINDS:
1. Ordinary witness evidence collector,
evidence custodian . . .

2. Expert witness Chemist, Doctor,

Ballistician . . .

Drugs and
Medicine
Drug is a substance other than food
intended to affect the function of the
body. (Webster dictionary)

Medicine is a substance in certain

doses which when taken into the
human body cures illness and/or
relieves signs/symptoms of disease

Drugs of Abuse in the Philippines

1. Shabu
Methylamphetamine
Hydrochloride

2. Marijuana
(Cannabis Sativa Linn)
Tetrahydrocannabinol

3. Ecstacy/ MDMA
Methylene dioxy
Methylamphetamine

Classifications of Drugs

A. Stimulants

These drugs are used to increase

mental activity, relieve fatigue and
offset drowsiness.

Can cause mental retardation to unborn babies

Extended wakefulness and increased mental
alertness
Loss of memory
Irritability, anxiety and fear
Lacks interest towards studies and work
Chronic snorters suffer from irritation of the nose to
frequent nose bleeding
Loss of appetite resulting in decreased body weights

Example of
Stimulants
Methylamphetamine
Hydrochloride (shabu)

Cocaine

Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine
(Ectacy)

Classifications

B. Depressants
Substances that depress the
function of the central nervous
system of the body.

Barbiturates (sleeping pills)

Common name: yellow jackets,
blue devils, rainbow, Amys and
reds (stem from the color of the
capsule or tablet).

First synthesize (1863) by Adolf von

Baeyer (German Chemist).
The word "barbiturate" is a combination of
"Barbara" with "urea":
von Baeyer discovered it on Saint Barbaras
Day, and urea
was used in the synthesis
of the new molecule.
Barbara + Urea

The agent that

cause Marilyn
Monroe's death

C. Narcotics
- used to eliminate pain. Example:
opium, morphine, heroin
EFFECTS of Narcotics
Slows down and in some
cases, stops breathing.
Nausea and vomiting.
Constipation
Lowers testosterone level.

Opium poppy (papaver somniferum L.)

The collection of coagulated juice from opium poppy

D. Hallucinogens
are drugs which affect sensation,
thinking, self-awareness and
emotion.
Changes in time and space
perception, delusions (false beliefs)
and hallucinations may be mild or
overwhelming, depending on dose
and quality of drugs

Ill Effects of Drugs

I. Mental Health
1.
2.
3.
4.

Disturbance
Disturbance
Disturbance
Disturbance

in
in
in
in

PERCEPTION
ORIENTATION
MEMORY
JUDGEMENT

II. Physical Health

1. Systemic
a. Cardiac (HEART) Pathology
b. Pulmonary (Lung) Illnesses
c. Hepatic (LIVER) Problems
d. Renal (KIDNEY) Disease

General Health
a. Malnutrition
b. Infections
c. Accidents
d. Blood Transmitted Disease

WHICH ONE

Laboratory Tests for Dangerous Drugs

(Chemical Test)

1. Cocaine Scott Test (Blue)

2. Methamphetamine Hydrochloride Simons Test and
Marquis Test (Blue, Orange-Brown)
3. Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Simons Test and
Marquis Test (Blue, Black)
4. Barbiturates-Dille Koppanyi Test (Reddish purple)
5. Opium Marquis Test and Ferric Sulfate Test (Purple
to violet, Brownish purple)
6. Marijuana Fast Blue B Salt Test and DuquenoisLevine Test (Purple-red, Violet)

Immunoassay method
Competitive immunoassay, the antigen in the
unknown sample competes with labeled antigen to
bind with antibodies. The amount of labeled
antigen bound to the antibody site is then
measured. In this method, the response will be
inversely related to the concentration of antigen in
the unknown. This is because the greater the
response, the less antigen in the unknown was
available to compete with the labeled antigen.

GUNSHOT RESIDUE
EXAMINATIONS
Gunshot residue:
- traces of material that remain after the
use of a firearm using gunpowder
ammunition.

A. Primers:
Lead Azide
Used to initiate the propellant in
ammunition.
Sensitive to heat, shock or friction.
Deposits into thumb web and dorsal portion
of the firing hand.

B. Propellants:
75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, 10%
sulfur
Produces gas to propel the bullet.
Produces smoke and residue in the barrel.

C. Stabilizers:
Added to propellants and explosives to
retard their decomposition.

DETECTION OF GUNSHOT
RESIDUE:
Body parts close to the fired weapon may
have residues consistent with having fired
the weapon.

METHODS USED IN DETECTING

RESIDUES:
1. Paraffin test
2. Distance determination (Singeing 1-3 in.,
Smudging 3-8 in.and Tatooing 8-18 in.)
3. Firearm Examination

Paraffin Examination:
Residues implanted on the
exposed surface of the hand.
of the Skin).
< 72 hours
Covered with paper bag.

(Pores

False Positive Results:

Fertilizer
Explosives
Tobacco
Urine
Food samples

* Nitrate

from gunpowder

> DPA Reagent gives blue

specks with tailings.
* Non- Specific but it can be used as a corroborative
evidence.
DPA Reagent = 0.5 gram of Diphenylamine crystals + 80
ml Concentrated Sulfuric acid + 20 ml Water (acid to
water)

Factors affecting the result of

Paraffin Examination:
a.
b.
c.
d.

e.

Type of caliber
>More residues in revolver firearm
Length of barrel
>shorter barrel deposits residue in larger area
Direction of firing
>more residues when fired upward
Wind Direction
>residues will be blown in the direction of the
wind.
Use of gloves and when 72 hours has elapsed.

- is any chemical compound or mixture

that under the influence of heat,
pressure, friction or shock, undergoes a
sudden chemical change or
decomposition.

1. According to the velocity of reaction involved:

A. HIGH EXPLOSIVES the speed of its detonation
wave is equal or greater than 1000m/s and pressure
equal to thousands of atmospheres.

B. LOW EXPLOSIVE the rate of its decomposition

is relatively slow process and the wave produced is
less than the speed of sound.

2. According to their Application or Design

A. Military Explosives
i. Composition 4 (C4) mixture of RDX,
polyisobutylene, di-(ethylhexyl)secabate, and fuel
oil.
ii. Amatol mixture of 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene
(TNT) and Ammonium nitrate
iii. Cyclotol RDX and TNT
iv. Picratol TNT and Ammonium picrate
v. Trinotal TNT and Aluminum

2. According to their Application or Design

B. Industrial Explosives
i. Dynamite contains 75% nitroglycerine,
absorbed and desensitized by diatomaceous earth or
saw dust;
ii. Ammonium nitrate explosives (ANFU)
C. Home-made or Improvised Explosives
S - witch
P - ower
I nitiator (blasting cap)
C - ontainer
E xplosives (main charge)

Laboratory Tests for Explosives

(Chemical Test)

TNT Diluted Sodium Hydroxide and

Acetone (Color of solution turns to Red
wine)

Cyclonite (RDX) Thymol, Sulfuric acid

and Ethanol (Formation of Red Rose
solution)

BLOOD AND BLOODSTAINS

BLOOD is called as the circulating tissue of the
body.

. 1 cubic ml = 5,000,000 red cells

. 6 quarts in an average size man

COMPOSITION OF BLOOD
1. Plasma pale yellow liquid
- protein (fibrinogen)
- 65% of blood is plasma and 90% of plasma is water,
10% contains the proteins.

2. Formed Elements:
- RBC (Erythrocytes)
- WBC (Leucocytes)
3. Serum pale yellow liquid that squeezes out in clotted
blood
- no fibrinogen

CASE INVOLVE BLOOD AS AN

EVIDENCE
1. MURDER
2. RAPE
3. HOMICIDE
4. PATERNITY CASE

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY POLICE

OFFICERS AND FORENSIC CHEMIST IN
USING BLOOD AS AN EVIDENCE:
1. Where to search for blood in a crime scene?
2. How to collect and preserve specimens
containing blood and bloodstains?
3. Do the stains contains blood or other
substance?
4. If the stain is blood, is it human or not?
5. If human, what group of blood it belongs to?

IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF

BLOOD
1. As circumstantial or corroborative evidence
against or in favor of the perpetrator of the
crime.
2. For disputed parentage.
3. Determination of the cause of death and the
length of time the victim survived the attack.
4. Determination of the direction of the escape
of the victim or the assailant.
5. Determination of the origin of the flow of
blood.

PRELIMINARY TEST FOR BLOOD

COLOR TEST:
1. Benzidine test intense blue color
2. Phenolphthalein test / Meyers test
permanganate color.
3. Schonbeins test / Guiacum test blue
color
4. Leucomalachite Green test blue color.

CONFIRMATORY TEST
1. Microscopic test:
a. Fresh blood RBC are seen as spherical
w/out nuclues .
b. Animal blood RBC are oval in shape.
2. Microchemical test:
a. Teichman test dark rhombic crystal
b. Takayama test salmon pink
3. Precipitin test - human or animal origin
4. Absorption method blood group of the
human bloodstains, (disputed paternity).

SEMEN AND SEMINAL STAINS

FRESH SEMEN viscid, gelatinous, sticky
character but after exposure to air, it tends to
become more liquid.
- 10% formalin solution as preservative.
COMPOSITION:
1. Seminal fluid
2. Formed cellular elements:
- spermatozoa
- epithelial cells
- proteins

CASES INVOLVE IN SEMEN AND

SEMINAL STAINS
RAPE
ADULTERY
SODOMY
BESTIALITY

METHODS OF EXAMINATION
1.PHYSICAL
a. By feeling the apparel presence off stiff and
starchy feeling
b. Ultraviolet examination
2. CHEMICAL EXAMINATION
a. Florence test presence of choline
b. Acid phosphate test based on the reaction of
acid solution and acid phosphotase.
PROSTATE GLAND seminal fluid is 400 times
greater than in other parts of the body.
3. MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
- confirms the presence of spermatozoa ( Aspermia /
Oligoaspermia
. . .

Question?