Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive flashcards covering forensic chemistry, toxicology, explosives, blood analysis, and forensic medicine based on lecture notes.

What is Autoptic or Real Evidence?

Evidence that is made known or addressed to the senses of the court.

What are the four stages in the practice of Forensic Chemistry?

1. Collection and reception of the specimen, 2. Actual examination, 3. Report writing of the result, 4. Court appearance.

How does the transcript define a Drug?

Any natural or synthetic substance that is used to produce psychological or physiological effects in humans.

What are the four classifications of drugs mentioned?

Stimulants, Depressants, Hallucinogens, and Narcotics.

What is the purpose of a Screening Test in drug analysis?

A rapid test performed to establish potential or presumptive positive results.

Describe 'Adulteration' in specimen tampering.

Done by adding indigenous substances into a urine sample.

What is the Frye Rule?

A rule to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence, stating expert opinion is admissible only when the technique is generally accepted as reliable by the relevant scientific community.

What is the difference between High and Low explosives?

High explosives produce supersonic explosions, whereas low explosives involve slow deflagration.

What is the kill radius and explosion time for a modern hand grenade?

Kill radius is $15\text{ meters}$ and the grenade will explode in $3-5\text{ seconds}$.

Who created dynamite by combining Nitroglycerine with kieselguhr?

Alfred Nobel.

What are the three types of explosions?

Mechanical, Atomic, and Chemical.

What is a positive result in a Paraffin test and what does it indicate?

Blue specks, which indicate the presence of gunpowder residue.

List three substances that can give a false positive result in a Paraffin test.

Fertilizer, explosives, tobacco/cigarettes, urine, food samples, or certain cosmetics.

What is the difference between Toxicology and Toxinology?

Toxicology is the science of detecting and identifying drugs and poisons in the body, while Toxinology deals specifically with animal, plant, and microbial toxins.

Define Nephrotoxicity.

Rapid deterioration in kidney function due to the toxic effect of medications and chemicals.

How does Cyanide cause death?

By preventing red blood cells from absorbing sufficient oxygen, resulting in internal shortness of breath.

What is the difference between ED50 and LD50?

ED50 (Effective Dose) induces a response in half the population; LD50 (Lethal Dose) is the amount expected to cause death in 50\text{%} of the population.

What is the mean temperature and pH of human blood?

Mean temperature is $38\text{ degrees Celsius}$ and pH is $7.35-7.45$.

What is Serology?

A branch of science that deals with the study of human body fluids like blood, semen, and saliva, and their characteristics.

What does the Precipitin Test determine?

Whether blood is of human or non-human origin.

What is the positive result color for the Phenolphthalein (Kastle-Meyer) Test?

Pink color at a $1:80,000$ dilution.

Identify the salmon-colored to dark brown and pink crystal test for blood.

Takayama Test (or Hemochromogen Crystal Test).

In Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (BSPA), what does a blood drop striking at a right angle produce?

A nearly circular stain.

Define 'Arterial spray' in BSPA.

The spurt of blood released when a major artery is severed, often forming an arcing pattern of large individual stains driven by the heart's pumping.

What is the Medullary Index (M.I.) of human hair?

Less than $0.5$.

What is the most common plant fiber and what are its burning characteristics?

Cotton; it burns rapidly, smells like burning leaves, and has a steady flame.

What is Azoospermia?

A disorder where the male organ produces semen without sperm cells.

What chemical causes glass to appear greenish?

Iron.

What is the 'Odd and Even Rule' in gunshot trajectory?

If the number of entrance and exit wounds is even, no bullet is likely lodged; if odd, one or more bullets are likely lodged in the body.

Define 'Tandem Bullet'.

Two or more bullets leaving the barrel one after another.

What is 'Histotoxic anoxic death'?

Asphyxia due to the failure of the cellular oxidative process or the failure of oxygen utilization.

What is Petrography?

A branch of geology dealing with the systematic classification and identification of rock-forming minerals, rocks, and soils.

Name the firearm mark found at the base of the shell caused by backward movement against the block.

Breech face mark.

What is Puerperium?

The interval between delivery and the return of the reproductive organ to its normal non-pregnant state, lasting $6$ to $8\text{ weeks}$.