CHEM 440
Elementary Forensic Techniques
Western Illinois University
Spring 2016 Semester
Instructor: Dr. Liguo Song
Tel: (309) 298-1656
E-mail: l-song@wiu.edu
Office: Currens 324B
Office Hours: M.W.F. 10:00 – 11:20 pm
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Ravi Kiran C Lella
Lecture (Section/001; STAR Number/18373): M.W.F. 09:00 – 09:50am; Currens 315.
Lab (Section/021; STAR Number/18424): T./8:00 am -10:50 pm; Currens 419. The first 30 min
will be the pre-lab lecture in Currens 315.
Course prerequisites: CHEM 221 Elementary Biochemistry or 330 Elementary Organic
Chemistry, or permission of instructor.
Course description: CHEM 440, Elementary Forensic Techniques, is a four-credit hour science
course devoted to providing a general overview of the prevalent chemical principles, methods, and
instrumentation involved in the analysis of diverse forensic evidence. This course also lays a
suitable foundation of knowledge and experience to prepare the student for advanced study in
forensic science or an entry-level forensic scientist in the workforce. The scope of this course
includes discovery at a crime scene, the most important location of evidence; physical evidence;
analytical techniques for organic and inorganic materials; forensic toxicology; firearms,
ammunition, unique tool marks, and various impressions (e.g., shoe prints, fabric properties, and
bloodstains).
Couse structure: This course is composed of lectures (including class discussion and video
supplements), laboratory experiments, case studies, chapter review questions, homework
assignments, quizzes, essays, and examinations. We will meet face-to-face for lectures, laboratory
experiments, case studies, quizzes and examinations. We will also make extensive use of our
WesternOnline course website (http://westernonline.wiu.edu) for homework assignments and
essays. If you need technical assistance at any time during the course or to report a problem with
WesternOnline you can:
1. Call uTech support center 309-298-2704
2. Use Desire2Learn Help 10.1
Objectives:
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1. Understand the importance of forensic science in the criminal justice system and know the
major contributors to its development.
2. Understand how different types of scientific evidence are collected, preserved, and
examined in the forensic lab.
3. Gain knowledge of elementary forensic techniques and how they are used in the forensic
lab to analyze different types of forensic evidence
4. Gain knowledge of how to perform meaningful interpretation of data from forensic
measurements.
Martials:
1. Textbook (required to be purchased):
1) Criminalistics: an introduction to forensic science, 11th edition. Author: Richard
Saferstein. Print: ISBN-13 978-0-321-76575-8. Publisher: Pearson Prentice Hall.
2. Supplemental textbook (not required to be purchased):
1) Forensic Chemistry, 2nd edition. Author: Suzanne Bell. eText: ISBN-13
9780321766151. Print: ISBN-13 978-0-321-76575-8. Publishers: Pearson Prentice
Hall.
2) Quantitative Chemical Analysis, 8th edition, Author: Daniel C. Harris. Print: ISBN-13
978-1-4292-1815-3. Publisher: W.H. Freeman and Company.
3. Lab Manual (to be provided):
1) Lab Manual for Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 10th edition.
Author: Clifton E. Meloan, Richard E. James, Thomas Brettell and Richard
Saferstein.
2) Handouts adopted from National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Forensic
Workshop.
4. Case files (to be provided)
Supplies (required):
1. Protective eyewear (safety goggles) for use in the laboratory experiments
2. Official lab research notebook-50 pages from the WIU bookstore.
Grade determination
Component
Laboratory experiments
Case studies
Chapter review questions
Homework assignments
Quizzes
Essays
Three semester exams
Final exam
%
20
5
0
14
12
4
30
15
Possible points
200
50
0
140
120
40
297
153
2
Total points
100
1000
1. Laboratory experiments (20%): A total of 12 laboratory experiments will be performed
during the semester. To prepare for the lab, students must read through each lab in advance
and also attend the pre-lab lecture. Students may work in lab groups of a few people, but
each student must complete his/her own lab reports. No credit will be given to any student
who did not physically complete the lab as instructed.
Safety is the first concern in a chemistry laboratory experiment. Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) information on all chemicals utilized in the laboratory can be found at the
following web site, http://hazard.com/msds/. Proper handling of chemicals is expected. The
following rules must be observed while working in the laboratory:
1) Appropriate safety goggles must be worn at all times – the use of contact lenses
is discouraged.
2) Proper dress is required - bare feet, sandals, or opened-toed shoes are not allowed
in the laboratory. It is best not to wear expensive clothing as stains and holes can
result from misplaced chemicals.
3) Behaving appropriately – you must be aware of others around you, so be careful
when carry chemicals and walk through the laboratory.
4) Know the location and operation of the safety equipment – this includes
eyewash facilities, fire extinguishers, fire showers, and fire blankets. In case of fire,
do not panic, clear out of the immediate area, and call your instructor for help.
5) Cleaning up – it is important that you clean your workstation upon completing
your laboratory exercise.
6) Food, drinks and smoking of any kind are not allowed in the laboratory – keep
all objects, such as glassware or plastic tubing, out of your mouth while in the lab.
7) No cell phone calls in the laboratory.
The lab reports are to be typewritten (Font-12 and Times New Roman is preferred,
margins 1 inch). Lab reports must include the cover page and various other components:
the objective of the experiment, theory/background relates to the experiment, materials for
the lab, and the procedures (in your own words), experimental results (including
calculations), discussions and conclusions, reference(s), and answers to post-lab questions.
The report must be completed and submitted electronically as a single “word file” to the
WesternOnline class dropbox by 11:30 pm on the Monday of the same week when the next
lab starts on Tuesday (see schedule below). Lab reports should represent the individual
student's work. Discussion with your lab partner and classmates on the report is fine, but
you must not copy the content of the report from your partner or any other sources. The
format and the distribution of lab points per lab report are listed below:
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1) Cover page (5%): Must include the title of the experiment, course number, your
name (bold type), your lab partner’s name, instructor’s name, TA’s name, and date.
Case numbers are required to some of the lab reports.
2) Objective (5%): State two to three sentences about the objectives of the
experiment. If case number is required, then narrative about the crime scene must
be included.
3) Theory/Background information (10%): Require half to a page to summarize the
basics of how the objectives will be realized. This may include important reactions,
techniques or instrumental methods. It should not include procedures.
4) Materials (5%): List chemicals, reagents and their concentration, instruments
being used.
5) Procedures (20%): The details should be sufficient so that your fellow students
can read your report without any guessing. Any last minute change in procedures
or concentration during lab session must be recorded. Use your own words to write
up a lab procedure; do not directly copy the procedure from lab manual/handout.
You must use past tense and passive voice to write up your lab report (5% will be
deducted with the wrong format).
[Sample examples]
 “I collect the samples from the crime scene, place them in the bag, seal it, and
have my signature and date on the bag.” The format is wrong because the
present tense is used.
 “I collected the samples from the crime scene, placed them in the bag, sealed it,
and had my signature and date on the bag.” The format is wrong even though
the past tense is used because it is not a passive voice.
 “Samples from the crime scene were collected, placed in the bag and sealed,
and signed and dated by me.” This is the right format.
[Note] Avoid placing Arabic numerals at the beginning of each sentence.
 For instance, “0.6 g glycine was weighed out and put into a 100 mL volumetric
flask” is not a correct format.
 “Point six gram of glycine was weighed out and put into a 100-mL volumetric
flask” or “Glycine (0.6 gm) was weighed out and put into a 100-mL volumetric
flask,” which is the correct format.
6) Results (30%): The accuracy/quality of your data will be graded.
 These should include tables, graphs and calculations, if any
 Tables and graphs should have self-explanatory titles
 Numbers should have appropriate units
 X and Y axes should be labeled
 All calculations should be included with appropriate units
7) Discussions and Conclusions (10%) You recorded data and did some analysis
during the lab session and did further analysis and wrote a lab report in a week after
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the experiment(s). What have you learned from the experiment(s) and what is (are)
the conclusion(s)?
8) References (5%): List cited references.
 If you take information from chem 440 Westernonline handouts, then cite
the URL address. For instance:
Huang, Jenq-Kuen (2015). Density of glass by flotation.
https://westernonline.wiu.edu/d2l/le/content/66439/viewContent/971288/
View?ou=66439
 If you cite any journal article you have to follow this format:
Thogmartin, Jon R., Wilson, Christopher I., Palma, Noel A., Ignacio,
Susan S., Mark, J. Shuman., and Flannagan, Lisa M. (2011). Sickle Cell
Trait-Associated Deaths: A Case Series with a Review of the Literature.
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 56 (5): 1352–1360.
9) Post-lab questions and excises (10%).
The labs will be worth 20 points per lab. Only your ten best laboratory exercises will be
counted toward your final grade. Your total number of points possible from labs will be
250 points. You must score a minimum of 130 points in the laboratory experiments to pass
CHEM 440.
Labs are given as scheduled in the syllabus (or announced in class in the unlikely case that
it must be rescheduled). If it should be necessary to miss a lab, please notify your instructor
by e-mail before the fact if possible. There will be no makeup labs. Missing more than
two labs will ensure a zero to be incorporated into your final grade (exceptions can
be made in some circumstances with documentation). There is a penalty for turning in
a lab report late: 10% will be deducted for each day. Assignments of lab reports over a
week late will not be accepted and will receive zero point.
2. Case studies (5%): There will be approximately 12 forensic files to be presented before
every pre-lab lecture. The presentation of each forensic file will last approximately 20
minutes. Students are required to answer specific questions about each case and submit the
answers with the lab report. The answers will be worth 10% in the lab report. There will
be a final exam of case studies and labs, which will be worth 50 points.
3. Chapter review questions (0%): In order to receive good grades, it is imperative that you
keep up with course readings and solve the chapter review questions (including the review
questions for inside the science) in the textbook after each chapter is completed. The keys
to the chapter review questions will be posted on WesternOnline after each chapter is
completed. It is strongly advised that you review the keys to the review questions before
you attempt to do the homework assignments.
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4. Homework assignments (14%): There will be approximately eight homework
assignments periodically during the semester. The homework assignments will appear in
the WesternOnline as online quizzes. Each homework assignment will consist of
approximately 20 questions. Each question will be worth 1 point. You will be allowed to
have two attempts and your highest attempt will be automatically graded. In order to
receive a grade of each homework, you must do it within the available time window, which
is usually a couple of days. Only your seven best homework assignments will be used to
determine your final grades. Your total number of points possible from the homework
assignments will be 140 points.
5. Quizzes (12%): There will be approximately eight quizzes periodically during the
semester. A quiz usually follow a homework assignment and may be announced in class
a couple of days in advance. Each quiz will consist of approximately 10 questions and each
question will be worth 2 points. Only your six best quizzes will be used to determine your
final grades. Your total number of points possible from the quizzes will be 120 points.
There will be no makeup quiz.
5. Essays (4%): There will be approximately eight essays periodically during the semester.
The essays will appear in the WesternOnline under the category of online quizzes, although
they are actually not quizzes. Each essay must be completed and submitted to the
WesternOnline by 11:30 pm two days after it is assigned. Each essay will be worth 5 points.
The maximum points that you will earn are 40 points.
5. Regular Semester Exams (30%): There will be four semester exams, each will cover the
lecture materials that are not coved by a previous exam. Each exam will consist of
approximately 33 questions and each question will be worth 3 points. Only your three best
semester exams will be used to determine your final grades. Your total number of points
possible from the regular semester exams will be 297 points. Exams should be given
approximately at the date as scheduled in the syllabus, but the exact date will be announced
in class. No makeup exam will be allowed unless you have acceptable excuses such as
University sponsored functions (i.e. WIU band trips, field trips in other WIU classes,
WIU athletics, etc.). In addition, documentation is required, and must be submitted to the
instructor in advance or within a week. There can be only one possible makeup exam per
semester for all students who have a minimum of two possible misses; and it has to be
comprehensive. All other absences will receive zero point for the missed exam.
6. Final Exam (15%): The final exam is comprehensive. It will consist of approximately 51
questions and each question will be worth 3 points. The final exam will be worth 153 points.
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Grading scale:
90.00% and above
86.70 - 89.99%
83.40 - 86.69%
80.00 - 83.39%
76.70 - 79.99%
73.40 - 76.69%
70.00 - 73.39%
66.70 - 69.99%
63.40 - 66.69%
60.00 - 63.39%
56.70 - 59.99%
56.66% and below
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Notice to students with disabilities: In accordance with University values and disability law,
students with disabilities may request academic accommodations where there are aspects of a
course that result in barriers to inclusion or accurate assessment of achievement. To file an official
request for disability-related accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center at
309-298-2512, disability@wiu.edu or in 143 Memorial Hall. Please notify the instructor as soon
as possible to ensure that this course is accessible to you in a timely manner.
Emergency preparedness: The WIU Office of Risk Management and Emergency Preparedness
provides resources on how to respond to emergency situations. Please view the video resources at
www.wiu.edu/rmep (click “Resources” on the right side of the page). If the fire alarms sound
and/or students are asked to evacuate the building all students should proceed immediately to the
nearest exit and gather at the southwest corner of the Higgins parking lot (near the fence) until the
“all clear” is given.
Course polices - to earn a passing grade in this course the student must:
1. Keep up with book reading, including supplemental textbook reading when required.
2. Complete laboratory experiments, case studies, review questions (including review
questions for inside the science), homework assignments, quizzes, essays and exams as
assigned.
3. Attend class regularly and punctually. You are responsible for all information and materials
in classes whether you are present or not. Students who are present for all the classes
will receive 20 bonus points at the end of the course. Students who receive six or more
absences may receive a FN grade at the end of the course. Any student arriving more
than ten minutes late for any exam or lab may not be allowed to take or complete the exam
or lab at the instructor’s discretion. Leaving the classroom prior to completion of an exam
is prohibited. When a student leaves the classroom, the exam is complete. If the student
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
leaves the classroom with an exam without submitting the exam for grading, the value of
the exam is zero.
Participate in a professional manner. Listen (do not have conversations) while the
instructor is speaking. If you have questions, raise your hand and/or politely say “excuse
me” to get the instructor’s attention. Phrase your questions using professional, respectful
words and tone of voice. Turn your cellphone ringer off, and put it away. Your instructor
should not be able to see your cell phone at any time during class. Laptops and tablets may
only be used with special permission. Use the restroom before class. Leaving the classroom
during class should only happen in very rare circumstances of dire emergency. Failure to
follow these rules may result in being required to leave the classroom for the remainder of
the class period.
Email correspondence must also be professional. This means that messages should be
written clearly, using proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Address the instructor
using the appropriate title (i.e., Dr. or Professor). Before sending an email, check to see
whether the answer to your question is in the syllabus or other document on WesternOnline.
Unprofessional messages may not receive a response from the instructor.
Study regularly for the exams—do not wait until just before. For best results, read the
assigned material according to the schedule in advance, and then review the material and
your notes after lecture and lab the same week.
Check WesternOnline to stay apprised of any changes--the student is responsible for
keeping up with class. WIU policy on student rights and responsibilities can be found at
http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php.
Policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other academic dishonesty: Each student must
complete their own individual course assignments and take their own exams. All exams
and the assignments are the responsibility of the individual student. If it can be
demonstrated that two students have collaborated in an assignment, they will both lose the
opportunity to earn a grade for that assignment. (This does not exclude students from group
study). Academic dishonesty in any form, including cheating and plagiarism, will not be
tolerated. Potential penalties will be decided on an individual case basis. Please see the
WIU Academic Policy for Undergraduate Students for further information:
http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php
Tentative class schedule*:
Week
Date
1
Monday, January 18, 2016
1
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
1
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
1
Friday, January 22, 2016
2
Monday, January 25, 2016
2
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Chap/Lab
No lab
Chap 1
Chap 1
Chap 1
Chap 2
8
Title
Dr. Martin Luther King Day
Syllabus; Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
The crime scene
2
2
3
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Friday, January 29, 2016
Monday, February 01, 2016
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Chap 2
Chap 2
Chap 3
Case study 1
Lab 1
Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Friday, February 05, 2016
Monday, February 08, 2016
Tuesday, February 09, 2016
Chap 3
Chap 6
Chap 6
Case study 2
Lab 2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
5
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Friday, February 12, 2016
Monday, February 15, 2016
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
5
Chap 7
Case study 3
Lab 3
5
5
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Friday, February 19, 2016
Chap 7
Chap 8
6
Monday, February 22, 2016
Chap 8
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Case study 4
Lab 4
6
6
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
6
7
Friday, February 26, 2016
Monday, February 29, 2016
Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Chap 9
Chap 9
Case study 5
Lab 5
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Friday, March 04, 2016
Monday, March 07, 2016
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
Chap 10
Chap 10
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
Wednesday, March 09, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Chap 8
Case study 6
Lab 6
Chap 11
Chap 11
9
The crime scene
The crime scene
Physical evidence
When the dust settled
Experiment 6: Powder residues on
fabrics
Physical evidence
Fingerprint
Fingerprint
Touch of evil
Experiment 9: Fingerprinting
EXAM 1
Lincoln's Birthday
The microscope
Palm Saturday
Experiment 10: Fingerprinting
(advanced)
The microscope
Firearms, tool marks, and other
impressions
Firearms, tool marks, and other
impressions
Paintball
Experiment 3: Practice in the use of
the microscope
Firearms, tool marks, and other
impressions
Matter, light, and glass examination
Matter, light, and glass examination
Three’s a crowd
Experiment 40, Part A: Comparison
of tool mark scratches; Experiment
11, Part A: Making a cast of a tool
imprint
Hairs and fibers
Hairs and fibers
EXAM 2
Catch 22
Experiment 4: Refractive index
(RI) of Glass Fragments
Drugs
Drugs
9
9
9
10
Monday, March 14, 2016
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Friday, March 18, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
10
10
10
11
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Chap 12
Chap 12
Chap 12
Case study 8
Lab 8
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Friday, April 01, 2016
Monday, April 04, 2016
Chap 14
Chap 14
Chap 15
11
11
11
12
Tuesday, April 05, 2016
12
12
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
12
13
Friday, April 08, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
13
13
13
14
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Friday, April 15, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
14
Chap 11
Case study 7
Lab 7
Case study 9
Lab 9
Chap 15
Chap 13
Case study 10
Lab 10
Chap 13
Chap 13
Chap 16
Case study 11
Lab 11
10
Spring Break Week
Spring Break Week
Spring Break Week
Spring Break Week
Drugs
Vanished
Experiment 15: Examination of hair
and textile fibers by microscopy;
Identification of fibers and fabrics
by differential staining (online
handout)
Forensic toxicology
Forensic toxicology
Forensic toxicology
A tight leash
Experiment 2, Part B: Density
comparison by flotation;
Experiment 5, Part B: Density
gradient tube
Forensic serology
Forensic serology
DNA: the indispensable forensic
science tool
Till death do us part
Analysis of abused drug in urine
sample (online handout); Breath
alcohol analysis - AlcotestR &
Alcotest 7410 (online handout)
DNA: the indispensable forensic
science tool
EXAM 3
Metals, paint, and soil
The house that roared
Experiment 7: Blood identification
and typing
Metals, paint, and soil
Metals, paint, and soil
Forensic aspects of fire and
explosion investigation
Sex, lies and DNA
Experiment 38: DNA
Fingerprinting I: EDVO-Kit #109
14
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
14
15
Friday, April 22, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
15
Chap 16
Chap 17
Chap 17
Case study 12
Lab 12
15
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Chap 4
15
Friday, April 29, 2016
Chap 4
16
16
16
16
17
17
17
17
Monday, May 02, 2016
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Friday, May 06, 2016
Monday, May 09, 2016
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Forensic aspects of fire and
explosion investigation
Document examination
Document examination
Convictions overturned within a
hair
Experiment 39: PCR implication of
DNA for fingerprinting: EDVO-Kit
#130
Crime-scene reconstruction:
bloodstain pattern analysis
Crime-scene reconstruction:
bloodstain pattern analysis
EXAM 4
Final exam of case studies and labs
Review
Review
Final Exam Week
Final Exam Week
Final Exam Week
Final Exam Week
*This table may not accurately represent the start and end points of each lecture.
Note: This syllabus reflects the course policies and planned schedule, and may be amended at the
instructor’s discretion at any time. Any revisions will be announced in class. The most current
version of the syllabus will always be available via the class website on WesternOnline.
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