CHM1020C: Chemistry for Liberal Studies
Schedule Summer 2015
Week
Dates

Lecture
Experiment
Assignments Due
M
T

W
R
F

1
5/11
5/12
5/13
5/14
5/15

Lecture 1: Introduction to Forensic Academy

  • Chemistry and Crime- A Brief History
  • The Language of Chemistry
  • The Scientific Method
  • Types of Evidence
No Labs
  • Lecture Quiz I

2
5/18
5/19
5/20
5/21
5/22

Lecture 2: Gathering Evidence

  • Physical Evidence Collection: Mass, Weight and Units
  • Analysis: Unit Conversions
  • Experimental Results: Statistics of Evidentiary Information
No Labs
  • Lecture Quiz 2

3
5/25
5/26
5/27
5/28
5/29

Lecture 3: Chemical Basics

  • Atomic Structure
  • Isotopes
  • Atomic Mass
  • Electronic Structure
  • Using Light to Investigate
  • Spectroscopy
No Labs
  • Lecture Quiz 3
  • Take Exam 1 at University Testing Center

4
6/1
6/2
6/3
6/4
6/5

Lecture 4: Chemical Structure

  • Lewis Structures
  • Chemical Shapes
  • Polarity
  • Solubility
  • Acids and Bases
  • pH

Lab 1: Introduction to the Facility and Rules

  • Lab Safety
  • Lab Equipment
  • Collection Techniques
  • Proper Storage of Evidence
  • Lecture Quiz 4
  • Pre-Lab Exercise I

5
6/8
6/9
6/10
6/11
6/12

Lecture 5: Chemical Evidence – Solutions

  • Water
  • Chemical Reactions
  • The Mathematics of Chemical Reactions
  • Luminol and other Forensic Chemicals

Lab 2: We Have a Crime Scene

  • Murder Site
  • Collect all Evidence
  • Go to Autopsy
  • Collect all Evidence
  • Store Evidence
  • Lecture Quiz 5
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 2

6
6/15
6/16
6/17
6/18
6/19

Lecture 6: Chemical Evidence – Drugs

  • Types of Drugs
  • Structures and Functions
  • Chemistry and the Law

Lab 3: Dirt and Fibers

  • Preparation of Samples
  • Mass Spectroscopy
  • Analysis of Content
  • Lecture Quiz 6
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 3
  • Take Exam 2 at University Testing Center

7
6/22
6/23
6/24
6/25
6/26

Lecture 7: Arson and the Chemistry of Fire

  • Combustion
  • Evidence of Arson
  • Flammable Liquids, Why?
  • Explosive Chemistry

Lab 4: Crime Scene 2: Blood in the Car?

  • Processing the Car for Evidence
  • Analysis using Luminol
  • Analysis using Ninhydrin
  • Lecture Quiz 7
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 4

8
6/29
6/30
7/1
7/2
7/3

Lecture 8: Time of Death

  • Chemical Kinetics
  • Death and Temperature
  • Death and Preservatives
  • The Evidence of Death

Lab 5: Toxicology is In

  • Fluids Analysis
  • Liquid-liquid Extraction
  • Chromatography – LC/MS
  • Reinsch Screen
  • Lecture Quiz 8
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 5

9
7/6
7/7
7/8
7/9
7/10

Lecture 9: Weapons and Chemistry

  • The Gun
  • The Knife
  • The Bat
  • The ligature

Lab 6: Combustion and the Forensics of Fire

  • CO-Oximeter
  • CO- Diffusion Cell
  • CO- UV-Vis Spectrometer
  • IR
  • Lecture Quiz 9
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 6
  • Take Exam 3 at University Testing Center

10
7/13
7/14
7/15
7/16
7/17

Lecture 10: The Biochemistry of Poisons

  • Neurotoxins
  • Cytotoxins
  • Cardiotoxins
  • Heavy Metals

Lab 7: We Have a Suspect

  • DNA Analysis Prep Samples
  • PCR
  • STR Analysis
  • CODIS
  • Lecture Quiz 10
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 7

11
7/20
7/21
7/22
7/23
7/24

Lecture 11: Identifying the Suspect: Part I

  • The Chemistry of Fingerprints
  • The Chemistry of Hair
  • Fiber Analysis

Lab 8: How Did She Die?

  • Time of Death
  • Method of Death
  • Putting the Killer at the Scene(s)
  • Reporting the Findings
  • Lecture Quiz 11
  • Pre-Lab Exercise 8

12
7/27
7/28
7/29
7/30
7/31

Lecture 12: Identifying the Suspect: Part II

  • Blood Analysis
  • DNA Structure and Function
  • DNA Fingerprints
  • Genetic Matches
No Labs
  • Lecture Quiz 12

13
8/3
8/4
8/5
8/6
8/7
Final Exam Week
No Labs
 Take Final Exam at University Testing Center

Before the Lab Meeting:

  • Read the lab experiment to understand its objectives, the concepts involved and the method to be used.
  • Highlight or underline the important concepts and key steps in the experimental procedure.
  • Do the Pre-Lab exercises to test your understanding of the experiment.

During the Lab Meeting

  • Take notes from the instructor’s introduction, to help remember key concepts and practical details.
  • While you work, think about what you are doing and how it contributes to the goal of the experiment.
  • Record data immediately and completely on the data pages to avoid losing important information.
  • Whenever possible do calculations and conclusions before you leave the lab, where discussion with classmates and instructor is readily available. Otherwise, do calculations and conclusions as soon as possible after the lab meeting. Ask for help if needed. Get reports completed and handed in on time.