Knowra Forensic chemistry Forensic chemistry Forensic chemistry applies chemical analysis to materials collected in legal investigations. It identifies substances, compares samples, and interprets chemical traces as evidence.
Chromatography : A family of methods that separates mixture components through their different movement between a stationary phase and a mobile phase. Separates components in drugs, inks, fire debris, and other complex evidence.
Forensic toxicology : The analysis of drugs, alcohol, and poisons in biological samples for legal investigations. Applies chemical testing to substances found in blood, urine, and tissues.
Murder of Helle Crafts : The 1986 Connecticut murder case in which forensic evidence helped establish that Helle Crafts had been killed and dismembered. Trace and material evidence helped investigators reconstruct a crime despite the absence of a body.
Forensic biology : The analysis of biological materials, including DNA, for legal investigations. It examines biological identity evidence rather than primarily chemical composition.
Mass spectrometry : An analytical technique that identifies ions by measuring their mass-to-charge ratios. Provides molecular signatures for identifying substances in forensic samples.
Trace evidence : Small amounts of material transferred between people, objects, or places during contact. Chemical characterization can associate minute fragments with possible sources.
Dreyfus affair : A political scandal in France involving the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus for treason. Questioned-document evidence and expert interpretation exposed the dangers of overstating forensic conclusions.
Forensic anthropology : The application of skeletal analysis to legal questions about human remains. It infers identity and circumstances from bones rather than chemical traces.
Infrared spectroscopy : A technique that uses infrared absorption patterns to reveal molecular bonds and chemical structure. Helps distinguish materials such as fibers, polymers, paints, and drugs.
Arson investigation : The investigation of fires to determine their origin, cause, and possible criminal involvement. Chemical analysis of fire debris can detect ignitable-liquid residues.
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