Study Guide for the FSAT Exam

Which of the following best describes the value of field kits for chemical testing of controlled substances?

A. they removed the necessity for laboratory analysis

B. they are presumptive tests

C. they have questionable reliability

D. they allow the officer to make a field identification

They are presumptive tests

The primary reason for proving “chain of custody” on a particular item in court is to:

A. authenticate the item

B. show how many people handled the item

C. show how long it was in each person’s possession

D. deter or prevent unauthorized individuals from handling the evidence

Authenticate the item

What is the highest energy in the spectral regions?

Ultraviolet

Human genomic DNA is not found in

Red blood cells

You receive an envelope containing a semi-automatic pistol for an operability check. You open the envelope to examine the weapon. You first remove a fully loaded magazine. The weapon is now:

A. potentially still loaded and unsafe

B. unloaded and safe

C. potentially still loaded but safe

D. rendered safe because of a magazine disconnect

Potentially still loaded and unsafe

When handling biological materials, which of the following is the most reasonable approach to take?

Precaution should be taken regardless of the condition or the origin of samples being handled

Upon reviewing your notes for court appearance in one week, you realized that there is a clerical error or two results have been reversed. What is the best course of action?

Immediately notify the attorney and issue a report which makes the correction clear

Which of the following actions is not forbidden by the ABC Code of Professional Conduct?

A. Embellishing one’s qualifications when testifying

B. Utilizing a secret weapon

C. Refusing to honor a subpoena duces tecum

D. Interpreting equivocal results based only on an employer’s wishes

Utilizing a secret weapon

A defendant has a combination of genetic marker types common to a particular evidence stain and 0.1% of the population. This means:

A. Approximately 1 out of 1000 people would have the same types

B. The next 999 people that walked into the court room would not have the same combination types

C. We are 99.9% certain that the person responsible is being tried

D. We are 0.1% certain that the person responsible is being tried

Approximately 1 out of 1000 people would have the same types

A drunk driver struck a pedestrian at a dark intersection. Realizing that the headlamps were not on, the driver turns them on before the police arrive. The broken right from low beam flashes and goes out. The police collect the headlamp and submit it to you for examination. You are likely to find which of the following indicators?

I. A sharp break

II. Hot deformation

III. Fused glass

IV. Large amounts of WO3 deposits

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A. IV only

B. I only

C. II and III

D. II, III, and IV

I only (a sharp break)

What purpose does humidity serve when processing latent prints with Cyanoacrylate?

Causes polymerization and the formation of white particles on the ridges

What are the most important components of a Polymerase chain reactions

Oligonucleotides (small chain of nucleotides

Which one of the following statements applies to FT-IR but NOT dispersive IR?

A. the technique is considered to be a confirmatory test

B. the resulting spectrum is a measure of molecular vibration

C. the infrared radiation is analyzed utilizing interferometer

D. solid samples are prepared by mixing the sample with KBr and pressing a pellet

The infrared radiation is analyzed utilizing interferometer

The differences in striation marking along a gun’s bore could be the result of:

A. imperfections of the rifling cutter, distortions caused by a broach cutter, and wear from the firing bullets over time

B. Imperfections of the rifling cutter

C. Distortions caused by a broach cutter

D. Wear from the firing bullets over time

Imperfections of the rifling cutter, distortions caused by a broach cutter, and wear from the firing bullets over time

How will the Rf values of eluents most likely be affected if a TLC tank is not kept saturated with the developing solvent?

A. they will increase

B. they will decrease

C. they will increase or decrease unpredictably

D. they will not be affected

They will decrease

If the IR absorbance spectrum for a previously unidentified drug matches that of a l-amphetamine Hal standard, which of the following would be a justifiable conclusion?

A. the unknown l-amphetamine hydrochloride

B. the unknown could be d-amphetamine hydrochloride

C. the unknown could be l-amphetamine sulfate

D. the unknown could be methamphetamine hydrochloride

the unknown is l-amphetamine hydrochloride

With which one of the following drugs will be the Marquis reagent NOT produce a colored reaction product?

A. morphine

B. mescaline

C. amphetamine

D. Barbiturate

Barbiturate

Which reagent would be most useful for visualization and differentiation of the various cannabinoid separated from marijuana extracted on a TLC plate?

Fast blue BB

The term “theoretical plate” refers to which one of the following parameters in gas chromatography?

A. retention time

B. polarity

C. efficiency

D. stationary phase thickness

efficiency

What is an MSDS?

A document of chemical safety

In microscopy, which one of the following terms describes the relationship between retardation and thickness?

A. aberration

B. dispersion

C. scattering

D. birefringence

Birefringence

Ohm’s law interrelate potential (volts) to:

Resistance

What is the range of probabilities that two genes on the same chromosome will remain together after meiosis?

A. 5% to 25%

B. 1% to 99%

C. 25% to 75%

D. 50% to 99%

1% to 99%

A nucleic acid must contain a nitrogenous base and which of the following?

I. aromatic ring

II. 4 carbon ring

III. 3 carbon ring

IV. phosphate

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A. I, II, and IV

B. III and IV

C. I and III

D. I and IV

II and IV (3 carbon ring and phosphate

What are the four nucleotides found in DNA?

Cytosine, thymine, guanine, adenine

Which of the following factors DO NOT affect the migration of DNA fragments through an electrophoretic system?

I. pore size

II. tracking dye

III. DNA shape

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A. II only

B. II and III

C. I and II

D. I and III

II only (tracking dye)

A three banded isoenzyme pattern with a 1:2:1 intensity ratio indicates a _____ protein

A. monomeric

B. dimeric

C. trimeric

D. tetrameric

dimeric

What are organic compounds having the basic formula NH2-R-COOH (R= an aliphatic or aromatic side chain) that are polymerized to form peptides and proteins termed?

A. amino acids

B. enzymes

C. phospholipids

D. polysaccharides

amino acids

Which of the following products would be expected to contain the HIGHEST concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons?

A. paint thinner

B. gasoline

C. kerosene

D. coleman fuel

gasoline

The transfer of heat energy through a solid material by contact between its moving molecules is called:

Conduction

Which of the following classes of compounds is the MOST indicative of gasoline?

A. polynuclear hydrocarbons

B. aliphatic hydrocarbons

C. alicyclic hydrocarbons

D. aromatic hydrocarbons

Aromatic hydrocarbons

Which of the following garments would be the most suitable for collection of trace evidence by using a tape light technique?

A. nylons shell windbreaker

B. mohair sweater

C. cotton/polyester blend dress shirt

D. pair of blue denim trousers

Nylon shell windbreaker

What is phaeomelanin

A brown pigment occurring in hair

Which of the following is the most common type of eternal plasticizer

Phthalates

Compared to glass jars or polyester bags, metal cans have what advantages for packing and storing fire debris evidence?

Easier to transport, resistance to corrosion, more likely to survive long term storage intact, resistance to thermal stress during analysis

Which of the following are found in gasoline in significant quantities?

toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene

The lowest temperature at which a liquid gives off sufficient vapor to form an ignitable mixture with the air is called the:

Flash point

What is an indicator of an incendiary fire?

Multiple points of origin

Unprocessed crude oil consists primarily of:

Alkanes

When examining a paint chip what would support the conclusion that the chip is from an automobile that has been refinished?

Five or more layers in the finish system

Refractive index can be defined as:

The ratio of velocity of light in a vacuum to that in any medium

Gas chromatography has the capability of separating mixtures on the basis of their distribution between:

A stationary liquid phase and a moving gas phase

What is the term describing chemical compounds that have the same chemical formula and the same bond arrangement, and differ only in the orientation of the molecules in 3D

Isomers

A graying hair is often associated with:

An increase in diameter

What must be demonstrated by Forensic Chemist to prove arson?

Willful intent, destroy the dwelling of another, and the use of fire

Reasons for Arson

Pyromania, insurance fraud, heroism, revenge, terrorism, vandalism, cover up crime

Ignition temperature

Minimum temperature at which a fuel will spontaneously ignite

Combustion

Rapid combination of oxygen and fuel to produce noticeable heat and light

Exothermic reaction

Reaction which liberates heat

Endothermic reaction

Reaction which absorbs heat from environment

Heat of combustion

Heat evolved when a fuel is burned in oxygen

Essential Elements of Fire

Fuel, air, heat, and propagation of reaction

Types of fires

Glowing and burning

Glowing

Ignitable fuel is exhausted, burns like charcoal, gives off tremendous heat but NO smoke, smoldering

Burning

Flames present, fuel still being pyrolyzes, evidence of smoke

Fuels (States of Matter)

Solid-liquid-gas

Fuel only burns in what state?

Gaseous state

Common fuels

Gasoline, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, light fluids, solvents

What level of oxygen does the fire begin to get weak?

15%

Heat is a form of energy transferred through?

Conduction (solids), convection (plasma), and radiant energy (IR)

Propagation of reaction is…

Self sustaining, oxidation reaction, and the reaction ends when cycle is broken

Point of origin

Where the fire started, distinctive patterns may be present, use of portable sniffers (dog and electronic devices)

Collection of arson evidence

Place evidence into airtight containers (pain cans and polyester bags), collect control sample, clothing of suspect, look for igniters

Analysis of Arson Debris

Heated headspace analysis, solvent extraction, dynamic adsorption, passive adsorption, pure substance

Alcohol percentages

Beer/Ale (4-6 and 5-8%), wines (12% natural, 22% fortified), liquid (40-55%)

Concentration unites

Percentage alcohol, promo, and BAC units

Congeners

Fusel oils, organic acids, esters, and acetaldehyde

Standard drinks

12 oz of beer, 4 oz of wine, 1 oz 100-proof liquor

Factors affecting oral absorption of ethanol

Carbonated beverages enhance, fatty and oily beverage slow, ethanol concentrations, higher altitudes promote absorptions, presence of food in stomach delays

Routes of alcohol administration

Oral, inhalation, skin, injection, rectally

Water content of ethanol distribution

The greater the water content, the greater the ethanol concentration relative to other tissues

Elimination of alcohol

Metabolism (95+% via Liver), Direct excretion (5% through breath, urine, and perspiration)

CNS Depression

Impaired judgment, depressed learned social and cultural inhibitions, impaired self-evaluation, euphoria, memory loss, shortened attention span

Stage I of Alcohol Influence

Affects frontal portion (memory and judgement)

Stage II of Alcohol Influence

Equilibrium, muscular coordination, sense

Stage II of alcohol influence

Autonomic Nervous System

Tolerance

Effect which results from the chronic use of a drug where a larger does becomes necessary to achieve the effect

Acquired tolerance

Results from the chronic use of alcohol; individuals are still impaired in judgment, reaction, and coordination

Metabolic tolerance

Biochemical changes which affect the rate of metabolism and elimination from the body

Melanie effect

Acute tolerance of ethanol; an individual perceives himself as less impaired at a given alcohol concentration in the elimination phase than at the same concentration of the absorption phase

Physical Deficits produced by alcohol

Alter distance perception, impaired hearing reduced muscular coordination, increased reaction time, blurred vision, and nystagmus

Henry’s Law

The weight of any gas that dissolves in a definite volume of liquid is directly proportional to the vapor pressure exerted above the liquid

Charles’ Law

The volume of gas varies directly with the Kelvin temperature

Alveolar Air Sample

Alveolar air sacs are the only area in the lung that are in direct contact with blood supply

Intoximeter

Based on infrared absorption, amount of absorption is proportional to amount of alcohol

DNA stands for …

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DNA is …

The genetic blueprint that makes us unique; only 1% is different from one another

‘Bases’ of DNA

A, T, C, and G; A pairs with T, and C pairs with G

Inheritance

23 pairs of chromosomes (2 copies of each pair)

With serology, a larger size and better quality uses

RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)

With serology, a larger size and poorer quality uses)

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism)

Takes long strands of DNA and cuts them up into smaller fragments

PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)

Makes copies of small/degraded DNA samples until there is enough to test; not as varied as RLP; focuses on several locations of DNA that differ in sequence between people

First step of RFLP

Extraction

Cleaning and purifying the sample from serology

Final product in long strands of high quality, purified DNA

‘Restriction’ of RFLP

Cutting up the DNA into smaller fragments, accomplished using chemical scissors that cur specific sequence along the DNA; the length of the DNA differs and we can distinguished between them because people have different lengths based on repeated areas of DNA

Electrophoresis

Applying an electric current across the gel in order to separate pieces based on lengths from RFLP by placing them in gel

Denaturation

Making DNA single-stranded for later testing

“Souther Blot”

“wicking” process that moves the DNA from the gel to the membrane

DNA probing

Use of labeling known DNA fragments to find a particular DNA sequence in a larger collection

Probe

Short segment of synthetic ‘tagged’ DNA used to detect a particular DNA fragment