A chemistry whodunit: Forensic examination of pen inks

Quigley, Michael N.; Hong-yan, QI

doi:10.1021/ed068p596

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The replica could be prepared by mixing a vegetable oil with a pigment (ochre) and previously aging it in a climate chamber. The approach could be considered similar to the ones used in forensic chemistry. − However, its use has been extended in the field of Cultural Heritage give to students in Archaeology, Conservation Science, or Chemistry the possibility to know how a scientist could operate, even comparing with other approaches. − In fact, in this field, there is a different problematic need to choose the specific and proper approach for the problem solving.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the Unknown Content of an Ancient Egyptian Sealed Alabaster Vase from Kha and Merit’s Tomb Using Multiple Techniques and Multicomponent Sample Analysis in an Interdisciplinary Applied Chemistry Course

et al. 2020

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This article highlights the multianalytical study of exuded liquid from an ancient Egyptian sealed alabaster vase by Master's students in an applied chemistry for cultural heritage course. Master students are introduced to the field of Archaeometry that see the collaboration of experts in different areas of research such as conservators, curators of museums, physicists, chemists, etc. The sample is a residue exuded on the linen strip sealing an ancient Egyptian alabaster vase (inventory number S.8448) from the collection of the Museo Egizio in Turin (Italy). The students start to plan the noninvasive investigation by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) for the inorganic compounds characterization, followed by the extraction of the organic components (such as oils, fats, and waxes) to be analyzed by high-resolution 1 H and 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and 2D NMR correlation spectroscopy (COSY), heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC), and long-range heteronuclear correlation (HMBC) techniques and by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Reference standards, spectral databases, and published data on similar artifacts served as the basis for the interpretation of the instrumental results. The approach was introduced in the course of Applied Chemistry for Cultural Heritage for Master students in Archaeology (University of Palermo, Italy), where the need is to know how to approach the scientific investigation together with the conservation scientists and how to manage with a very low amount of sample. Pedagogically, the approach introduces students to the main techniques currently used in the field of Archaeometry while reinforcing fundamental concepts in sample collecting and multicomponent microsample analysis. This interdisciplinary approach provides a unique experience that demonstrates chemistry's broad applicability outside of the traditional laboratory. Students are guided to identify the inorganic and organic components of the exudate liquid: the first one is ascribable to clay minerals iron oxides, which could impart the brown color to the sample; the second one is ascribed to triglycerides of various kinds, which probably comes from vegetable oil.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying the Unknown Content of an Ancient Egyptian Sealed Alabaster Vase from Kha and Merit’s Tomb Using Multiple Techniques and Multicomponent Sample Analysis in an Interdisciplinary Applied Chemistry Course

et al. 2020

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“…Indeed, shows such as CSI , Bones , and Forensic Files have been among some the most popular programs on the air for more than a decade. , The effect that the increased number of crime and forensic television shows has had on science education has been discussed previously . Using forensic science applications to engage students of all ages has a long and well-documented history in this Journal. − Given the large percentage of enrolled students interested in health sciences, and given the public interest in forensic/crime television programs, we believed that reading The Poisoner’s Handbook would serve to pique student interest in the relationship between chemistry and forensic science. We hoped it would also serve as an engaging way for students to learn more about the simple toxins commonly implicated in both accidental and homicidal poisonings in the early 20th century.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Using The Poisoner’s Handbook in Conjunction with Teaching a First-Term General/Organic/Biochemistry Course

Zuidema

Herndon

2015

J. Chem. Educ.

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Deborah Blum’s New York Times bestselling nonfiction book The Poisoner’s Handbook was used as supplementary reading in our first-term General/Organic/Biochemistry course. This course serves as both the first course for our Allied Health chemistry sequence and a core science course. Our goal was that, through reading this book, students would learn more about the origin of forensic chemistry in the historical context of the Jazz Age and the toxins that were often involved in poisonings near the beginning of the 20th century. Outcomes and student feedback to this initiative are discussed.

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“…While previous experimental reports use TLC to target the undergraduate level of education, , we are building upon current frameworks to effortlessly bring the concept of chromatography into elementary school curricula. − We have designed a kid-centric activity that involves the use of interlocking building-blocks, photography, circuitry, TLC, and three-dimensional (3D) visualization. We report transforming a previously used tool from a chemistry laboratory, a nerve gas detector built out of interlocking building-blocks, into a TLC photography device .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

K-5 Thin-Layer Chromatography: Three-Dimensional Analysis of Pigments from Plant Materials Using an Interlocking Building-Block Photography Box

Saldaña¹,

Valenzuela

Moor

et al. 2020

J. Chem. Educ.

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It is widely understood that students are able to learn and comprehend topics better as active participants. Topics related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are often mistakenly considered too difficult for elementary students to grasp. Conducting simple hands-on science experiments can be a useful instructional approach, allowing young scholars the ability to better grasp key scientific principles. We felt chromatography would make an ideal technique to incorporate into the elementary school curricula due to its ubiquitous use throughout the field of chemistry. We have designed an activity that combines chromatography with pigments extracted from plant materials to create a new, interactive activity that allows students to take on the role of a scientist. Students extract pigments such as chlorophyll, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and carotenes from plant materials, and separate the pigments using thin layer chromatography. The students construct a photography box from interlocking building-blocks and build a circuit that is used as a light source for the box. The developed thin layer chromatography paper is placed inside the box, and using a smartphone, a photograph is taken for analysis. Using a python script developed for this activity, students are able to analyze the photograph of the thin layer chromatography paper in a three-dimensional space that determines the red, green, and blue values, and the hue and saturation values of the pigments. This activity allows students to actively learn important scientific principles such as chromatography, color theory, and circuitry, all while working with common household items and toys, such as interlocking building-blocks, and smartphones, for instrument construction and analysis.

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A chemistry whodunit: Forensic examination of pen inks

Abstract: Forensic chemistry activity involving pen ink and chromatography.

Cited by 11 publications

References 23 publications

Identifying the Unknown Content of an Ancient Egyptian Sealed Alabaster Vase from Kha and Merit’s Tomb Using Multiple Techniques and Multicomponent Sample Analysis in an Interdisciplinary Applied Chemistry Course

Identifying the Unknown Content of an Ancient Egyptian Sealed Alabaster Vase from Kha and Merit’s Tomb Using Multiple Techniques and Multicomponent Sample Analysis in an Interdisciplinary Applied Chemistry Course

Using The Poisoner’s Handbook in Conjunction with Teaching a First-Term General/Organic/Biochemistry Course

K-5 Thin-Layer Chromatography: Three-Dimensional Analysis of Pigments from Plant Materials Using an Interlocking Building-Block Photography Box

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