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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2003  > April  >
In the Laboratory
Was the Suspect in Contact with the Victim? An Instrumental Methods Experiment for the Analysis of Single Fibers Using FT-IR Microscopy
Sharin Bender and Sheri J. Lillard
Department of Chemistry, University of California , Riverside, CA 92521
Cover
April 2003
Vol. 80 No. 4
p. 437
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.
Supplement
Instructions for the students and notes for the instructor are available.
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*  Citation
 Bender, Sharin; Lillard, Sheri J. J. Chem. Educ. 2003 80 437.
*  Keywords
 Instrumental Methods; IR Spectroscopy; Laboratory Instruction; Forensic Chemistry
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 March 10, 2003
February 28, 2005
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