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Was the Suspect in Contact with the Victim? An Instrumental Methods Experiment for the Analysis of Single Fibers Using FT-IR Microscopy

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Sharin Bender and Sheri J. Lillard

Department of Chemistry, University of California , Riverside, CA 92521

J. Chem. Educ., 2003, 80 (4), p 437

DOI: 10.1021/ed080p437

Publication Date (Web): April 1, 2003

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

Incorporating experiments with real-world relevance into the instrumental laboratory is accomplished by introducing experiments of a forensic nature. This strategy provides the opportunity for students to perform interesting experiments while they learn proper chemical, analytical, and instrumental techniques. In this laboratory experiment, fibers are (supposedly) collected from a crime scene and from a suspect's personal belongings. These fibers are analyzed and compared by using FT-IR microscopy with a mercury–cadmium–telluride detector. Physical descriptions, such as color and texture, as well as IR spectra are used for comparison of the fibers. The students identify functional groups that are present in the fiber samples and match them to the functional groups that are present in the fibers of known origin. Based on their experimental data, the students are asked to state the likelihood that the suspect was in contact with the victim.

Keywords (Audience):

Second-Year Undergraduate

Keywords (Domain):

Laboratory Instruction

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Instrumental Methods

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