CHEMISTRY 150 

Introductory Forensic Science

Chem 150 is intended for students who are either (a) enrolled in the UFV Criminal Justice Diploma Program, or (b) enrolled in the UFV Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice) Degree Program, or (c) require a lab science course to fulfil the requirements for other UFV programs. It is an introductory lab course for students wih little science background, and covers chemical, physical and biological aspects of forensic science. Chem 150 will satisfy the lab science requirement for a BA degree. WARNING: Some of the course material might be of a disturbing nature.

Any one of Biology 11, Chemistry 11, Physics 11, Earth Science 11, or Computer Studies 11.

The course will be based on the required text (Saferstein). Many case studies will be used to illustrate each topic, and the course will make use of reprint materials.

Introduction:

• Definition and scope of forensic science.
• The scientific method.
• The role of the forensic scientist in criminal cases.

• Securing and isolating the crime scene. Recording the scene.
• Protection of the crime scene.
• Types of evidence.
• Collection of evidence.
• Types of information revealed by physical evidence.

Glass and Soil Analysis:

• Physical properties - temperature, mass, density and refractive index.
• Composition of glasses and soils.
• Techniques for identification of glasses and soils.

• Types of fibers. Nature and structure of hair.
• Collection of fiber and hair evidence.
• Identification and comparison of hair and fiber evidence.

• Types of paints and other coatings.
• Collection of paint evidence.
• Physical methods of paint and plastic identification.

• Classification and description of drugs.
• Methods of drug and poison identification.
• Blood alcohol and breath alcohol analysis.

• The nature of blood.
• Characteristics of bloodstains.
• Analysis of semen and saliva evidence.
• Collection of evidence involving body fluids.

DNA Analysis:

• Biochemistry of DNA.
• DNA typing.

Fingerprints:

• Principles of fingerprints.
• Classification of fingerprints.
• Methods of detecting and preserving fingerprints.
• Fingerprint identification.

• Chemistry of fires and fuels.
• Fire patterns.
• Collection of arson evidence Analysis of flammable residues.
• Types of explosives.
• Collection and analysis of explosives.

• Comparison of bullets and cartridge cases.
• Tool and other marks.