1. Drugs, Toxicology, Arson, and Explosives
Forensic Chemistry
Drugs, Toxicology, Arson, and Explosives

2. What Chemistry Is
The study of the composition and transformation of matter
Composition – what it is made of
Transformation – what happens when it reacts
Used in fingerprinting, firearms, document analysis, trace evidence examination, and by itself

3. Types of Drugs
Narcotics – Relieve pain by depression of the central nervous system and sleep.
Mostly derived from opium (from poppy plant)
Morphine (pain killer), codeine (cough suppressant), heroin (made from morphine), methadone (synthetic opiate).
Many are addictive

5. Depressants – Depress central nervous system.
Alcohol (50 % of killers and 40 % of victims are intoxicated), barbiturates (downers), methaqualone (sedative), tranquilizers (valium), chloral hydrate (knock-out drops), “huffing” substances (glue, toluene, gasoline, etc.)
Stimulants – stimulate central nervous system and provide alertness and decreased appetite.
Amphetamine or methamphetamine, cocaine

7. Hallucinogens – Mood- and perception-altering drugs
Peyote, mescaline, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), dimethyltryptamine (DMT), marijuana and hashish (from hemp plant)
Drug Tests – Start with Screening Tests
Spot tests - place chemical in spot plate and add chemical. Color change indicates the drug may be present.
Also use microscopic tests and UV spectroscopy

9. Confirmatory Tests
Infrared Spectrophotometry – Substance is subjected to all wavelengths of IR light, and will absorb at certain frequencies. Each substance will absorb differently at each frequency (based on vibration of its chemical bonds) – IR fingerprint.
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) – GC separates components of the mixture, and MS identifies each component (by molar mass)