Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

This forum is for (a) to help other members source materials, and (b) for topics regarding equipment repairs.
Post Reply
User avatar
fibreweb
Posts: 620
Joined: 20 Jul 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley High School
Suburb: Tamworth
State/Location: NSW

Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by fibreweb »

Our Chemistry teacher has decided after 10 years of doing the Shipwreck elective she will change for this Year 12 and do the Forensic elective.
I welcome the change as I have had enough of rusting nails in every available liquid :crazy:
I know this will involve electrophoresis but have no idea what other pracs are involved and whether there is new equipment and chemicals that I need to source. I do have until 3rd term next year but wanted to have the wish list ready for the beginning of the year and purchase stuff whilst we have money available.
Can anyone give me an idea of pracs involved.
Thanks
User avatar
Milo
Posts: 75
Joined: 31 Mar 2014, 10:16
State/Location: ACT

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by Milo »

Well, here's some they might do:
-Fingerprints. Needs iodine crystals and superglue, ink pads and brushes for talc and graphite powder.
-Sulfate content of fertiliser. Just need some fertiliser.
-Fibre/hair observation. Just collect some scrap fabric and animal hair.
-The electrophoresis of DNA is the big one, we usually get the kits from Southern Biological but other companies do them too, such as Bio-Rad.
User avatar
rae
Posts: 1045
Joined: 31 May 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley College
Suburb: Burradoo
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by rae »

Sulfate prac is not a forensics prac.
User avatar
lada
Posts: 1024
Joined: 29 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by lada »

No, sulfate prac is in industrial chemistry
User avatar
lada
Posts: 1024
Joined: 29 Jun 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by lada »

Sorry, it is in chemical monitoring and management
User avatar
Jazz
Posts: 468
Joined: 24 Jul 2006, 10:00
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by Jazz »

only 5 mandatory pracs
Carbohydrate tests
organic tests
atomic spectra
chromatography
protein test
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Cheers Jazz
User avatar
Milo
Posts: 75
Joined: 31 Mar 2014, 10:16
State/Location: ACT

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by Milo »

Hmm, yes thinking about it the fertiliser one doesn't quite fit forensics, but I found the prac information in our forensics folder for Chemistry, and from what I recall the teacher did that prac during that topic. Oh well.
User avatar
Lyn
Posts: 706
Joined: 16 May 2006, 10:00
Job Title: Lab Assistant (Technician)
School: St. John's Catholic College
Suburb: Darwin
State/Location: NT

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by Lyn »

If you removed a body from a plant nursery to a dump site in a built up area then the the fertiliser test would help identify possible place of death. It was just a thought. :whistling2:
User avatar
rae
Posts: 1045
Joined: 31 May 2006, 10:00
School: Oxley College
Suburb: Burradoo
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by rae »

To much CSI me thinks!!
User avatar
sunray18
Posts: 1488
Joined: 14 Feb 2008, 12:30
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by sunray18 »

FOr electrophoresis you can hire the equipment - search internet. Our HOD made his own set using perspex and plastic, and the banana plugs and leads we all use.
If you contact Optimum Technology see internet they have great resources for forensics in schools
User avatar
dime
Posts: 703
Joined: 13 Jun 2007, 09:55
State/Location: NSW

Re: Year 12 Forensic Chemistry

Post by dime »

We make our own electrophoresis prac stuff. Nothing expensive: just need some agar to make the gel; a clear take away container to set gel in; food colouring; couple of graphite rods, shaped to fit together in a sort of cross with a rubber band; salt for the electrolyte solution; aligator clip leads, which we use everday; and a transformer.
Post Reply