CHEM 106 - Introduction to Forensic Chemistry

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 4
LAB hours per week: 2
This course will examine selected topics in forensic sciences and is intended for non-science majors in fulfillment of the general education lab science requirements. Through an understanding of basic chemical principals, this course will investigate the role of science in solving crimes. Topics may include glass analysis, document identification, blood detection and analysis, drug identification, and DNA profiling. The laboratory component will involve the analysis of trace evidence. Techniques utilized may include chromatography, fingerprinting, blood typing, fiber identification, glass analysis, mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy. This course does not satisfy the chemistry requirement for the nursing degree.
Course Outcomes:

Predict the polarities polarity of compounds and characterize and intermolecular interactions of compounds.
Solve dilution problems.
Categorize types of reactions, including precipitation and neutralization.
Describe the pH of a solution and utilize titration to determine an unknown concentration.
Differentiate between organic functional groups.
Sketch the atom in terms of the major subatomic particles, their location, masses, and charges.
Draw Lewis structures for simple molecules.
Discuss the use of analytical instrumentation (infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography) in analysis of unknown compounds and apply Beer’s Law.
Apply chemical concepts to real life analysis of forensic evidence to draw reasonable conclusions
Interpret and draw quantitative inferences from tables, formulas and graphs.
Evaluate different evidence-based perspectives in the formulation and analysis of a problem or question.

Course Topics:

Matter, physical and chemical properties, and measurement
Physical and chemical changes
Polarity and intermolecular forces
Solutions and concentration
Light and the electromagnetic spectrum
Acids and bases
Organic functional groups
Atomic structure
Spectroscopy and chromatography

Course Attribute(s): Natural Science