Whodunnit?

A mystery unraveled by Isaiah Diaz, Trisha Litong, and Kalef Ramirez.

Chemistry, Truong, Period 1

Mystery and Murder

3 billion people travel in the air yearly

1 accident in every 2.4 million flights
Our case: Empirical Airline Flight 1023

Overview

Determine empirical formulas

of unknown compounds using
data
We will identify victims with
reasoning
Why did the plane explode?
Who was murdered?
Who was the murderer?

Victim Profiles
Victim Profile:
Democritus D
Victory
Pro Athlete
Suspended for
drug violations

Victim Profile:
Kelvin Doughnut
Pastry baker
Specializes in
pastries

Victim Profile:
Trump Aviator
Pilot
Has heart
condition

Victim Profile:
Norm Einstein
M.O.L.E. leader
Teaches chemical
safety

Victim Profile:
Ruthy Ford-Recycle
Electrical engineer
Has been depressed
because of project
cancellation

Victim Profile:
Dalton Molar
High school
student
Underwent dental
surgery

Victim Profile:
Bohr Diet
Chemistry
teacher
Loves sugar-free
drinks

Victim Profile:
Curie Drugs
Sales representative
Works for Advil
Company

What do chemicals
have to do with
solving crimes?

Identifying Victims
Number Formula(s)
1

C20H28O2

C8H8O3 &
C7H8N4O2

C18H21NO3

Compound Name &

Uses

Found
where?

Victim
Name

Reasoning

Methandrostenolone:
illegal performance
enhancing drug

Blood &
Luggage

Democritus
D
Victory

Suspended
for drug
violation

Kelvin
Doughnut

Pastry
baker

Dalton
Molar

Underwent
dental
surgery

Vanilla &
Briefcase
Thiobromine used in Stomach
baking
Codeine used as
dentistry
painkiller

Chemical Profile:
Methandrostenolone
Illegal steroid

Pockets

Chemical Profile:
Vanilla
Great for flavor
Chemical Profile:
Thiobromine
Used in baking,
chocolate flavor

Chemical Profile:
Codeine
Dentistry
painkiller

Identifying Victims
Number Formula(s)

Compound Name &

Uses

Found
where?

Victim Name

Reasoning

C3H5N3O9

Nitroglycerine:
explosive &
heart medication

Blood &
Pockets

Trump
Aviator

Heart
problem

C21H22N2O2 &
C7H5N3O6

Strychnine: rat
poison,
Trinitrotoluene:
TNT, explosive

Blood,
Luggage

Norm
Einstein

Teaches
chemical
safety

C14H18N2O5

Aspartame:
artificial
sweetener

Briefcase

Bohr Diet

Sugar-free
drinks

Chemical Profile:
Nitroglycerine
Heart medication
that doubles as an
explosive

Chemical Profile:
Strychnine
Rat poison
Chemical Profile:
Trinitrotoluene
TNT, explosives

Chemical Profile:
Aspartame
Artificial
sweetener

Identifying Victims
Number Formula(s)
7

C40H44N4O &
C10H13O

C9H8O4,
C8H9NO2,
C21H22N2O2

Compound Name &

Uses
Curare: poison,
Dimetacrine:
antidepressant

Found
where?
Briefcase,
Luggage

Victim Name

Aspirin:
painkiller,
Acetaminophen:
Tylenol,
Strychnine: rat
poison

P&B, P&B,
Briefcase

Curie Drugs

Chemical Profile:
Curare
Poison
Chemical Profile:
Dimetacrine
Antidepressant

Chemical Profile:
Aspirin
Painkiller

Reasoning

Ruthy Ford- Depression

Recycle
Drug
company
representat
ive

Chemical Profile:
Strychnine
Rat poison
Chemical Profile:
Acetaminophen
Tylenol

So what does this

tell us?

The Explosion
Whodunnit? Norm Einstein, in
luggage
Chemical: Trinitrotoluene
Common uses: TNT, explosives
Formula: C7H5N3O6
Calculations:
Carbon

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

37.01%
12 g/mol

2.22%
1 g/mol

18.50%
14
g/mol

42.27%
16
g/mol

= 3.084
1.321

= 2.22
1.321

= 1.321
1.321

= 2.642
1.321

= 2.335
* 3

= 1.681
* 3

= 1 * 3

= 2 * 3

= ~7

= ~5

= 3

= 6

The Murder Victim

Who: Norm Einstein, found in his
blood
Chemical: Strychnine
Common uses: rat poison
Formula: C21H22N2O2
Calculations:
Carbon

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

75.42%
12 g/mol

6.63%
1 g/mol

8.38%
14 g/mol

9.57%
16 g/mol

= 6.285
0.598

= 6.63
0.598

= 0.599
0.598

= 0.598
0.598

= 10.510
* 2

= 11.087
* 2

= 1.002
* 2

= 1 * 2

= ~21

= ~22

= ~2

= 2

The Murderer
Whodunnit? Curie Drugs, in her
briefcase
Chemical: Strychnine
Common uses: rat poison
Formula: C21H22N2O2
Calculations:
Carbon

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

75.42%
12 g/mol

6.63%
1 g/mol

8.38%
14 g/mol

9.57%
16 g/mol

= 6.285
0.598

= 6.63
0.598

= 0.599
0.598

= 0.598
0.598

= 10.510
* 2

= 11.087
* 2

= 1.002
* 2

= 1 * 2

= ~21

= ~22

= ~2

= 2

Motives
Plane Explosion
Norm Einstein was obsessed with his organization, M.O.L.E.
He was too obsessed with teaching people how to safely handle
chemicals. In an extreme attempt to raise chemical safety
awareness, he sacrificed his life and the lives of others for
a gruesome message.

The Murder
Curie Drugs had been to one of Norms safety sessions and
learned of his catastrophic plan. She attempted to stop Norm
by killing him before he could do anything, but it was too
late. Norm had already set the TNT to go off, and only he
knew the safe way to prevent it from exploding.

In conclusion
Chemicals are crucial in crime
Important to understand their basic uses
Where you find them can tell a story
Important to know how to identify them
with presented information

Thank you for

your time.
And remember chemicals can kill!