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CHE-360 Forensic Chemistry: Syllabus

Course Description

This course approaches the challenges, methods and analyses of forensic science from a fundamental, chemical perspective. Topics include drug analysis, arson investigation, questioned document analysis, and the analysis of paint and gunshot residue samples.

Course Objectives

For students interested in pursuing careers in Forensic Chemistry, the course helps the student to develop approaches to understanding, correctly using and further developing current chemical tools that are used in the Forensic Sciences. The course will be a required course for the Forensic Chemistry Concentration.

Course Prerequisites

Two semesters of Organic Chemistry, one semester of Analytical Chemistry and one semester of Physical Chemistry are the prerequisites for the course.

Course Purpose

This is a required course for students in the B.S. Chemistry program who are also completing the Forensic Chemistry Concentration. It can also be taken, based on availability, but students from other departments, if they have the prerequisites.

Course Content

Lecture topics include:

• Crime Lab Services – from local labs to the FBI
• Handling Physical Evidence
• Identification of evidence using microscopy – The example of hair analysis
• Chemistry and Dying of Fibers
• Paints and Plastics – Spectroscopic Methods
• Presumptive Methods for Drug Identification – Spot Tests
• Conclusive Methods for Drug Identification
• Arson Investigation – Characterization of hydrocarbon mixtures
• Chemistry and Firearms
• Questioned Document Examination
• Artificial Aging – Is this signature a week or a decade old?
• Applications of Chemistry and Physics in the Analysis of Blood Samples
• Inorganic Systems as Evidence – Glass, Soil
• Chemistry of Fingerprint Collection

Laboratory Experiences and Topics

• Analysis of Pen Inks by TLC and Spectroscopic Methods
• Spot Tests for Drug Analysis
• Detection of Cocaine on Paper Currency
• Introduction to Sample Characterization Using Microscopy
• Fibers As Evidence
• Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry – The Gold Standard for Analysis
• Fingerprint Chemistry
• Analysis of Glass Samples
• Visualization Software – Computer Capturing and Analysis of Evidence
• Introduction to Crime Scene Investigation

Teaching Methods

Formal lectures, targeted discussions and laboratory experiences will be used. Methods learned will be applied in the investigation of a ‘crime scene’ on campus at the end of the course.

Course Requirements

Students will be required to demonstrate a fundamental ability to question the chemical tools of forensic science, and to define approaches for developing their own chemical understanding – based on conceived experiments and literature investigations.

Student Assessment

The course grade will be computed as follows:

5 quizzes will be given, the grade will be based on the 4 highest quiz grades 20%
Comprehensive Final Exam 20%
Laboratory Reports 40%
Class Participation 10%
Forensic Chemistry Notebook 10%

Quizzes will be given in class, during the last 30 minutes of a class period. Quiz topics will be announced in advance. The final exam will cover the entire lecture and lab experience. Each lab will be accompanied by specific instructions on both how to complete the lab experience, and what is expected in the laboratory report.
Throughout the course, investigations into lecture topics will lead to a number of fundamental chemical questions, with the theme being ‘how does this work?’ Students will be sent on ‘chemical treasure hunts’ to collect information relevant to the chemical system, and a ‘round table discussion’ will occur in the next class period to present findings and reach new conclusions. Groups of four will be assigned to lead the discussion and process. Based on performance, effectiveness, reasoning skills, etc., a class participation grade will be assigned. The instructor will make regular assessments of this portion of the grade, and make clear what expectations there are for full credit in this category. Finally, throughout the course, class and lab topics will reveal ‘things a forensic scientist needs to know’. For example, it is useful to understand the chemical structures and functions of compounds found in materials found in the household (shampoo, gasoline, cleaning materials). Assignments will be regularly made and information found will be kept in the student’s forensic chemistry notebook. These notebooks will be collected four times throughout the semester to ensure that the assignments are being completed.

Bibliography

• W.G. Eckert, Introduction to Forensic Sciences, Second Edition, Elsevier, New York, 1992.
• N.E. Genge, The Science of Crime Scene Investigation: The Forensic Casebook, Ballentine Books, New York 2002.
• T. Kubic, N. Petraco, Forensic Science: Laboratory Experiment Manual and Workbook, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2003.
• O. Hilton, Scientific Examination of Questioned Documents, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993.
• B.A. J. Fisher, Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation, Seventh Edition, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2004.
• R. Saferstein, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, Seventh Edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2001.
• C.E. Meloan, R.E. James, R. Saferstein, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, Lab Manual, Seventh Edition, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2001.