X-ray Techniques in Forensic Science: XRD, XRF and X-ray Absorption (UGC-NET Unit II)
Published:
Questions
30
Duration
30 min
Faculty-reviewed
0
Updated
17 May 2026
About this mock
Advanced UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit II drill on X-ray methods used in trace, explosives, drugs, glass, paint, GSR and questioned-document casework. Covers Bragg's law and characteristic emission, Moseley's law and Kα/Kβ assignments, modern detector physics (Si(Li), SDD, scintillation, proportional counters), XRD applications (explosive polymorphs, drug polymorphism, soil mineralogy, paint pigment crystallography, stamp and watermark authentication), XRF applications (paint, glass under ASTM E2927, soil, GSR, ink), portable handheld pXRF for scene screening, micro-XRF mapping, sample preparation choices, and matrix and secondary-fluorescence interferences. Indian context anchored at NFSU and CFSL Hyderabad.
Sources & references
Questions in this mock are written and verified against the following sources. Citations are recorded per question and shown in the explanation after submission.
- cited in 8 questions
R. Jenkins, X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry, 2nd edition, Wiley-Interscience
Chapter on quantitative analysis and matrix correction; D. Pye geological evidence chapter on soil XRF
- cited in 5 questions
B. D. Cullity and S. R. Stock, Elements of X-ray Diffraction, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall
Chapter 1, Production of X-rays, continuous and characteristic spectra
- cited in 2 questions
Saferstein, Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 12th edition, Pearson
Paint chapter, XRF elemental fingerprinting and PDQ Paint Data Query database integration
- cited in 1 question
ASTM E2927-16, Standard Test Method for Determination of Trace Elements in Soda-Lime Glass Samples Using LA-ICP-MS for Forensic Comparisons
ASTM International, Forensic Sciences Standards, Section on glass comparison and E2926 framework
- cited in 1 question
E. Margui and R. Van Grieken, X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry and Related Techniques: An Introduction, Momentum Press
Chapter on portable XRF instrumentation and field-screening applications
- cited in 1 question
Directorate of Forensic Science Services, CFSL Hyderabad Annual Report, Explosives Division casework notes
Post-blast crystalline residue analysis by powder XRD with ICDD Forensic Subfile, supported by FT-IR and IC
- cited in 1 question
ICDD, Powder Diffraction File PDF-4+ 2024 release notes, International Centre for Diffraction Data
Forensic Subfile content, search-match figure-of-merit and de Wolff M20 reporting
Open source - cited in 1 question
R. L. Brunelle and K. Crawford, Advances in the Forensic Analysis and Dating of Writing Ink, Charles C. Thomas Publisher
XRF ink discrimination and non-destructive document analysis chapter
- cited in 1 question
ICDD, Powder Diffraction File PDF-4+ database, Forensic Subfile, International Centre for Diffraction Data
PDF entry 00-044-1620 for α-HMX, cross-referenced in NFSU explosives XRD work
Open source - cited in 1 question
ASTM E1588-20, Standard Practice for Gunshot Residue Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry
ASTM International, Forensic Sciences Standards, with cross-reference to ED-XRF screening
- cited in 1 question
G. F. Knoll, Radiation Detection and Measurement, 4th edition, Wiley
Chapter 6, Proportional counters, gas multiplication and pulse-height resolution
- cited in 1 question
G. Nichols and C. S. Frampton, Physicochemical characterization of the orthorhombic polymorph of paracetamol crystallized from solution, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1998, 87(6), 684–693
CSD refcodes HXACAN (form I) and HXACAN03 (form II)
- cited in 1 question
K. Janssens et al., Use of microscopic XRF for non-destructive analysis in art and archaeometry and forensic questioned documents, X-Ray Spectrometry
Polycapillary optics, micro-XRF instrumentation, ink mapping case studies
- cited in 1 question
P. Bertrand and B. Wopenka (eds.), Synchrotron-based and laboratory micro-XRD in forensic and archaeometric applications, X-Ray Spectrometry
Micro-XRD instrumentation, monocapillary optics, 2D detector and single-particle trace analysis
- cited in 1 question
National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Instrumentation and Analytical Sciences laboratory inventory, public facility note
Documented XRD and XRF instrument utilisation in NFSU forensic chemistry casework
- cited in 1 question
D. Pye, Geological and Soil Evidence: Forensic Applications, CRC Press
Chapter on XRD of soil mineralogy and Indian alluvial profiles, with ICDD reference patterns
- cited in 1 question
A. Thompson et al., X-ray Data Booklet, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Section 1.2, K and L shell binding energies and Kα Kβ emission lines, Cu Z=29
Open source - cited in 1 question
O. Hahn et al., X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction analysis of historical postage stamp paper, Forensic Science International, multiple authentication case studies
Paper filler chronology of TiO2 adoption, kaolinite and calcite era markers
How our mocks are built
Questions are written and edited by the ForensicSpot team and cited from peer-reviewed forensic textbooks, official syllabi and primary case law. Each one is verified before publishing. Detailed explanations show after you submit, so the test stays a real test. See a mistake? Tell us.
Common questions
What does the X-ray Techniques in Forensic Science: XRD, XRF and X-ray Absorption (UGC-NET Unit II) mock cover?+
Advanced UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit II drill on X-ray methods used in trace, explosives, drugs, glass, paint, GSR and questioned-document casework. Covers Bragg's law and characteristic emission, Moseley's law and Kα/Kβ assignments, modern detector physics (Si(Li), SDD, scintillation, proportional counters), XRD applications (explosive polymorphs, drug polymorphism, soil mineralogy, paint pigment crystallography, stamp and watermark authentication), XRF applications (paint, glass under ASTM E
How many questions and how long is the test?+
30 multiple-choice questions, 30 minutes total. Difficulty: hard. Tier: Premium.
Who is this mock for?+
Forensic science students and aspirants who want timed, exam-style practice with explanations and verified source citations on NET. Useful for postgraduate entrance preparation and for BSc / MSc forensic students testing their recall under time.
Are the questions reviewed?+
Each question carries a verified source citation. Faculty review for individual questions is in progress.
Do I need an account to take this mock?+
Yes, a free ForensicSpot account is required to start a timed attempt — this lets you save progress, see per-question explanations after submission, and track your topic-level performance over time.