Forensics

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Forensics Event Links
Forum Thread: 2009 2010
Test Exchange: 2009 2010

Forensics is a chemistry event that involves identification of powders, polymers, fibers, and hair samples, blood serum and fingerprint analysis, and interpretation of chromatography.

Ways to Identify Powders:

  • Flame test
  • Tests with liquids: Iodine, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrochloric Acid, Benedict's solution, Water, Ammonium Chloride
  • pH
  • conductivity
  • solubility in water

Ways to Identify Polymers:

  • Flame tests
  • Density

Ways to Identify Fibers:

  • Flame tests
  • check results with senses ( ie: smell)

Usually at competition, it's hard to do flame tests because you are given a candle or something similar, but Bunsen burner are rarely given. Though burn tests will give you the correct results for powders and fibers, they may not be allowed at some competitions, so you have to know other ways to identify them, such as density, color, or texture. The latter 2 work only for fibers because the polymers are all clear and feel like plastic.

Hints for identifying powders

  • Try to use solubility
  • How they react with the chemicals provided
  • Utilize pH
  • Burn tests can be used if necessary, but are only effective with K, B, and Li compounds (because their color is really distinct).
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