7/8 (worse 67) vocab forensics

controlled drugs

material whose possession is controlled by law

cannabis

a tall, annual help plant native to central Asia from which marijuana is harvested; also refers to the harvested product

teratogen

an agent that can cause birth defects in an embryo or fetus. two well-known examples are alcohol and thalidomide

designer drugs

drugs synthesized with particular pharmacological characteristics designed for abuse and evasion of specific drug laws

spectrophotometry

measurement of the absorption of electromagnetic radiation of a substance at different wavelengths of the spectrum

plasma

the fluid portion of blood, obtained by centrifuging a whole blood sample

metabolism

the sum of all chemical processing occurring in an organism

presumptive test

test that presumes the presence of the questioned substance; also called a screening test

immiscible

describes materials that do not mix

enzyme

a protein that acts as a catalyst in a living organism

antibody

a protein produced by a body’s immune system that tags a molecule in order to destroy it

EMIT

an enzyme immunoassay test to detect particular types of metabolites in body fluids

confirmatory test

test that specifically identifies one substance

spectriscopy

the branch of science that involves the study of electromagnetic radiation and its interaction with matter

ions

atoms or molecules that have lost or gained one or more electrons and obtain a net positive/negative charge

analyte

a substance being analyzed

toxicology

the study of the adverse effects of chemicals or physical agents on living organisms

toxins

substances that cause injury to the health of a living on contact or absorption

chronic exposure

continuing exposure to toxins over a long period of time

acute toxicity

effects of a toxin occurring almost immediately

synergism

combined effect of substances that exceeds the sum of their individual effects

antagonism

combined effect of substances that decreases their individual effects

chelating agent

an organic compound that complexes with a metal to form a ring structure

LD50

lethal dose for 50 percent of a given population

isotopes

chemical elements that have the same number of protons, diff number of neutrons

half-life

the time it takes for half a sample to decay

microgram

one millionth of a gram

DUI

driving under the influence

nystagmus

rapid, involuntary jerking of the eyeball