Forensic Chemistry
The analytical chemistry of criminal evidence: controlled substances, explosives, fire debris, GSR, food adulterants and chemical warfare agents, from presumptive screen to ISO 17025-certified court report.
- 99hours
- 32topics
- 10modules
Foundations of Forensic Chemistry
What forensic chemistry actually does inside a casework workflow, where it sits relative to forensic physics, biology and toxicology, the sampling and chain-of-custody discipline for chemical evidence, and the certified reference materials and quantification baseline (LOD, LOQ, measurement uncertainty) that decide whether an analytical result is admissible.
Start module- Introduction and Scope of Forensic ChemistryWhere forensic chemistry sits alongside forensic physics, biology and toxicology, and what a working chemist's caseload looks like at CFSL or DEA labs.12 min
- Sample Collection, Packaging and Chain of Custody for Chemical EvidencePackaging discipline for drug exhibits, liquids and post-blast debris, plus the chain-of-custody rules under BSA 2023, US Federal Rules and UK Regulator Codes.13 min
- Reference Standards, Certified Reference Materials and the Quantification BaselineCertified reference materials, and the LOD, LOQ, recovery and measurement-uncertainty numbers that decide whether a forensic chemistry result is admissible.14 min
Drugs of Abuse I: Schedules, Opioids and Stimulants
The controlled-substance legal frame across India (NDPS 1985), the US (CSA), the UK (MDA 1971) and the EU (Council Decision 2005/387/JHA), the chemistry and cutting-agent profile of heroin and fentanyl analogues that drove the US overdose crisis, and the stimulant chemistry (cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, MDMA) that anchors daily seizure casework worldwide.
Start module- Controlled Substances and Their Schedules: NDPS, CSA, MDA 1971 and the EU FrameIndia's NDPS Act quantity bands, the US Controlled Substances Act, the UK Misuse of Drugs Act classes, and the EU's early-warning drug-scheduling system.13 min
- Opioids: Heroin, Fentanyl Analogues and Prescription DiversionsHeroin's cutting-agent signature, the fentanyl-analogue chemistry behind the US overdose crisis, and the diversion chemistry of prescription opioids.14 min
- Stimulants: Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methamphetamine and MDMACocaine and amphetamine-family chemistry, cutting-agent and enantiomer profiling, and the clandestine synthesis routes that drive precursor scheduling.14 min
Drugs of Abuse II: Cannabis, Hallucinogens, Depressants and NPS
Cannabis cannabinoids (THC, CBD, HHC) and synthetic cannabinoid waves (K2/Spice), classical hallucinogens (LSD, psilocybin, DMT), depressant classes (benzodiazepines, barbiturates, GHB), and the novel psychoactive substance treadmill of cathinones, designer benzodiazepines and synthetic opioids that has reshaped forensic chemistry casework since 2010.
Start module- Cannabis: THC, CBD, HHC and the Synthetic Cannabinoid WavesTHC, CBD and HHC profiling, the legal hemp-versus-marijuana threshold, and the synthetic cannabinoid waves like K2 and Spice since 2008.14 min
- Hallucinogens: LSD, Psilocybin, DMT and the Indolealkylamine FamilyLSD blotter analysis, psilocybin in mushrooms, and DMT in ayahuasca, detected at picogram levels amid a shifting psychedelic-therapy legal landscape.12 min
- Depressants: Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates and GHBBenzodiazepine and barbiturate detection challenges, designer benzos outside scheduling, and GHB's short detection window in drug-facilitated crime.12 min
- Novel Psychoactive Substances and the Cathinone WaveHow clandestine chemists tweak a controlled scaffold to dodge scheduling, from the mephedrone cathinone wave to generic-scheduling responses worldwide.13 min
Presumptive Tests and the Analytical Workflow
Colour-test chemistry (Marquis, Mecke, Duquenois-Levine, cobalt thiocyanate, Scott test) and the SWGDRUG identification tiers that escalate from a presumptive screen through TLC, UV, GC-MS and LC-MS/MS to a court-defensible identification, with NDPS-style small-and-commercial quantity reporting baked in.
Start module- Presumptive Colour Tests: Marquis, Mecke, Duquenois-Levine, Cobalt Thiocyanate and ScottMarquis, Mecke, Duquenois-Levine and Scott colour tests screen for drugs before instrumentation, with false-positive profiles that limit courtroom weight.13 min
- SWGDRUG Identification Tiers and the UV / TLC / GC-MS / LC-MS/MS WorkflowSWGDRUG's tiered identification framework requires a Category A method plus an orthogonal test, escalating from UV-Vis and TLC to GC-MS and LC-MS/MS.13 min
Alcohol, Illicit Liquor and Beverage Chemistry
Ethanol analysis by GC-headspace and the blood-alcohol baseline that every drunk-driving prosecution rides on, the methanol chemistry behind hooch tragedies (2022 Bihar, 2009 Gujarat, US Prohibition-era adulteration), and the statutory frame around denatured spirit, country liquor and excise-controlled beverages.
Start module- Ethanol Analysis by GC-Headspace and the Blood-Alcohol BaselineHeadspace GC-FID is the global reference for blood-alcohol quantification, backed by dual-column confirmation and the Widmark back-calculation equation.13 min
- Methanol, Hooch Tragedies and Illicit Liquor ChemistryMethanol's oxidation to formaldehyde and formic acid explains hooch-tragedy blindness and death, distinguished from ethanol on the same GC run.13 min
- Denatured Spirit, Country Liquor and the Statutory FrameWhat denatured spirit contains, how country liquor is analysed across Indian states, and the excise statutes distinguishing legal from illicit production.12 min
Food Adulteration, Cosmetics and Consumer-Product Chemistry
Milk and dairy adulteration (melamine, urea, detergent), the chemistry behind edible-oil and spice adulteration (Sudan dyes in chilli, lead chromate in turmeric, argemone oil in mustard), and the cosmetics chemistry (heavy metals, banned colourants, formaldehyde release) regulated under PFA / FSSAI / US FDA / EU REACH frameworks.
Start module- Milk and Dairy Adulteration: Melamine, Urea, Detergent and the 2008 China ScandalHow melamine spikes apparent protein on the Kjeldahl test, the routine adulterants in Indian milk, and the LC-MS/MS and FTIR workflow that catches them.13 min
- Edible Oils and Spices: Argemone Oil, Sudan Dyes and Lead Chromate in TurmericArgemone oil, Sudan dyes in chilli, and lead chromate in turmeric are detected by GC-MS, LC-DAD and ICP-MS at part-per-billion levels.14 min
- Cosmetics Chemistry: Heavy Metals, Banned Colourants and Formaldehyde ReleaseLead in kohl, mercury in skin-lightening creams, banned azo colourants, and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are tested under FDA and EU cosmetic rules.13 min
Explosives and Post-blast Residue
Low and high explosives, primary and secondary classification, the chemistry of conventional military and commercial high explosives (TNT, RDX, PETN, HMX, Composition B, C-4, Semtex), the improvised explosives that dominate modern IED casework (TATP, ANFO, urea nitrate), and the post-blast residue sampling and IMS, GC-ECD, LC-MS/MS, ion chromatography workflow that links a fragment to a charge.
Start module- Explosives Classification: Low vs High, Primary vs SecondaryLow versus high explosives, primary initiators versus secondary charges, and detonation velocity decide how a forensic chemist classifies a fragment.13 min
- Conventional High Explosives: TNT, RDX, PETN, HMX, Composition B, C-4 and SemtexTNT, RDX, HMX and PETN each carry distinct manufacturing and spectral signatures read by IR, Raman and GC-MS, tagged under the ICAO taggant convention.14 min
- Improvised Explosives: TATP, ANFO, Urea Nitrate and Modern IEDsTATP, ANFO and urea nitrate powered attacks from London's 7/7 to Oklahoma City, prompting precursor-scheduling responses like EU Regulation 2019/1148.14 min
- Post-Blast Residue Sampling and the IMS, GC-ECD, LC-MS/MS WorkflowZonal sampling, field IMS screening, and lab confirmation by GC-ECD and LC-MS/MS trace post-blast residue from a fragment back to a charge.14 min
Fire Debris, Arson and Petroleum Products
Fire chemistry, pyrolysis and the arson investigation framework, the passive-headspace concentration on activated carbon strips (ASTM E1387 / E1618) and GC-MS pattern recognition that identifies petroleum-distillate accelerants (petrol, kerosene, diesel), and the chemistry of petroleum products, lubricants and transformer oil that turn up in industrial casework.
Start module- Fire Chemistry, Pyrolysis and the Arson Investigation FrameworkCombustion chemistry, pyrolysis products, and flashover phenomena constrain fire-origin determination under the NFPA 921 investigation standard.13 min
- Accelerant Detection: ASTM E1387 / E1618 and Passive Headspace ConcentrationASTM E1412 passive headspace concentration and E1618 GC-MS pattern recognition identify accelerants against an ignitable-liquid reference database.14 min
- Petroleum Products, Lubricants and Transformer OilLubricant additive packages, transformer-oil PCB content, and hopane and sterane biomarkers let chemists source-match petroleum products in casework.13 min
Gunshot Residue Chemistry
Three-component gunshot residue (lead, antimony, barium) and SEM-EDX particle morphology, the lead-free / green primer chemistry shift that has reshaped GSR detection since the 2000s, and the chemistry of firing-distance determination by Griess test and sodium rhodizonate that complements the ballistics range-determination work.
Start module- Gunshot Residue: Three-Component Particles and SEM-EDXLead, antimony and barium form the classic GSR fingerprint, confirmed by ASTM E1588 SEM-EDX particle morphology against environmental sources.13 min
- Lead-Free Primer Chemistry and Modern GSR DetectionLead-free primers introduced Sr, Ti, Zn and Ga particle signatures, reframing what a positive GSR result means under revised ASTM and ENFSI guidance.12 min
- Firing Distance Chemistry: Griess Test and Sodium RhodizonateThe modified Griess test maps nitrite propellant residue and sodium rhodizonate detects lead, together estimating firing distance around an entry wound.13 min
Inks, Counterfeit Currency, CWA and Regulatory Chemistry
Ink chemistry (gel, ballpoint, toner, inkjet) by TLC, HPLC, Raman and video spectral comparator workflows, the chemistry of counterfeit currency security features, the chemical warfare agent classes (sarin, VX, mustard, novichok) and OPCW designated laboratory network, and the ISO 17025 / NABL / SWGDRUG / ASTM / ENFSI accreditation regime that decides what a forensic chemistry lab can certify in court.
Start module- Ink Chemistry: TLC, HPLC, Raman and the Video Spectral Comparator WorkflowDye and pigment profiling by TLC, HPLC and Raman, plus video spectral comparator analysis, distinguish ink types against the US Secret Service Ink Library.13 min
- Counterfeit Currency: Security Features and Chemical AnalysisOptically variable inks, fluorescent features, and paper-fibre composition are examined by Raman and FTIR to tell genuine banknotes from counterfeits.13 min
- Chemical Warfare Agents and the OPCW Designated Laboratory NetworkNerve agents, vesicants, blood and choking agents fall under the Chemical Weapons Convention, confirmed by GC-MS, LC-MS/MS and NMR at OPCW labs.14 min
- ISO 17025, NABL, ENFSI and Quality Systems for Forensic Chemistry LaboratoriesISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, national bodies like NABL and UKAS, and SWGDRUG and ENFSI method consensus decide what a chemistry lab can certify in court.13 min