FORENSICS

MICHIGAN SCIENCE OLYMPIAD COACHES WORKSHOP AT MSU

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015

PRESENTED BY:

MIKE REED, REEDM@GHAPS.ORG

MICHIGAN SCIENCE OLYMPIAD BOARD MEMBER

AP CHEMISTRY TEACHER, GRAND HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL

HEAD COACH, GRAND HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

From Michigan Science Olympiad: If you have not already registered and

paid for your team, go to http://miscioly.org/shop/

The deadline for registering and paying for your team is January 11th.

State bids are based on the number of primary teams registered and paid by the deadline.

See Sue West for more information regarding registration.

For coaches, students, and event supervisors:1.Read the rules.2.Know the rules.3.Follow the rules.

SAFETY FIRST!

GOGGLES

GOGGLES from sonic.org/eye_protectionCATEGORY C

Description: Indirect vent chemical/splash protection goggles. These seal tightly to the face completely around the eyes and have indirect vents constructed so that liquids do not have a direct path into the eye (or no vents at all). If you are able to see through the vent holes from one side to the other, they are NOT indirect vents

Corresponding ANSI designation/required marking: Z87 (followed by D3 is the most modern designation but, it is not a requirement)

Example: Indirect vent chemical/splash protection goggles

Notes: 

1. A goggle that bears the Z87+ mark and is an indirect vent chemical/splash protection goggle will qualify for all three Categories A, B & C

2. VisorGogs do not seal completely to the face, but are acceptable as indirect vent chemical/splash protection goggles

LAB COATS OR LAB APRONS

1. DESCRIPTION: Given a scenario and some possible suspects, students will perform a series of tests. Thesetests, along with other evidence or test results will be used to solve a crime.

A TEAM OF UP TO: 2

EYE PROTECTION: C

APPROXIMATE TIME: 50 minutes

2. EVENT PARAMETERS:

a. Students may bring only these items:

i. test tubes (brushes & racks), or any devices inwhich they can perform the testsii. droppersiii. funnel(s) and filter paperiv. pH or litmus paperv. spatulas, plastic spoons, and/or stirring rodsvi. 9-volt or less conductivity tester (no testers will beallowed that run on AC current)vii. thermometerviii. flame test equipment (nichrome wire, cobalt blueglass, etc.)

(continued)…

2. EVENT PARAMETERS:

ix. slides & cover slipsx. hand lensxi. writing instrumentsxii. a pencil and ruler (for chromatograms)xiii. paper towelsxiv. metal tongsxv. each team may bring one three-ring binder (anysize) containing information in any form from anysource that is inserted into the rings (sheetprotectors are permitted)xvi. two non-camera calculators

Note: Students not bringing these items will be at adisadvantage. The Supervisor will not provide them.

2. EVENT PARAMETERS:

b. Supervisor will provide:

i. iodine reagent (I2 dissolved in KI solution)ii. 2M HCliii. 2M NaOHiv. Benedict’s solutionv. a hot water bathvi. a Bunsen burner or equivalent BTU heat source to perform flame testsvii. a waste containerviii. chromatography materials (e.g., beakers, Petri dishes, etc.)ix. a wash bottle with distilled water

2. EVENT PARAMETERS:

c. The supervisor may provide:

i. other equipment (e.g., a microscope, probes, etc.)ii. candle & matches if fibers given,iii. differential density solutions or other method of determining density of polymers if plastics giveniv. reagents to perform other tests

2. EVENT PARAMETERS:

d. Safety Requirements: Students must wear goggles, an apron or a lab coat and have skin covered from the neck down to the wrist and toes (gloves are optional, but if a host requires a specific type they must notify teams). Long hair, shoulder length or longer, must be tied back. Students who unsafely remove their safety clothing/goggles or are observed handling any of the material or equipment in an unsafe manner will be penalized or disqualified from the event.

3. THE COMPETITION:Level # Part

a sample

s

# Part b

samples

Part c chromatograms Part d Part e

Regional

3-8 5-9 1 type + Mass Spectra 1-2 topics

Required

State 6-10 6-12 1-2 types + Mass Spectra

1-3 topics

Required

National

10-14 10-18 1-3 types + Mass Spectra

3-5 topics

Required

3. THE COMPETITION:

a. Qualitative Analysis: Substances to identify:

sodium acetate, NaC2H3O2

sodium chloride, NaClsodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO3

sodium carbonate, Na2CO3

lithium chloride, LiClpotassium chloride, KClcalcium nitrate, Ca(NO3)2

calcium sulfate, CaSO4

calcium carbonate, CaCO3

cornstarch, C27H48O20, or, (C6H10O5)nglucose, C6H12O6

sucrose, C12H22O11

magnesium sulfate, MgSO4

boric acid, H3BO3 ammonium chloride, NH4Cl

There will be no mixtures. All teams will have the same set of solids to identify.

3. THE COMPETITION:

b. Polymers: Students may be asked to identify:

i. Plastics: PETE, HDPE, non-expanded PS, LDPE, PP, PVC, PMMA, PC - students may not perform any burn tests on these polymers, but the supervisor may provide burn test results on these plastics.

ii. Fibers: cotton, wool, silk, linen, nylon, spandex, polyester - burn tests will be permitted on the fibers.

iii. Hair: human, dog, cat, bat, and horse hair - students will need to know hair structure including medulla, cortex, cuticle, and root.

c. Chromatography/Spectroscopy: Students will be expected to separate components using paper chromatography, TLC, and/or analyze mass spectra. Students may be expected to measure Rfs.

3. THE COMPETITION:

d. Crime Scene Physical Evidence:

i. Fingerprint Analysis: Students will be expected to know these 8 specific fingerprint patterns (plain arch, tented arch, radial loop, ulnar loop, plain whorl, central pocket whorl, accidental whorl, and double loop whorl). Students should also be familiar with the common fingerprint development techniques of dusting, iodine fuming, ninhydrin, and cyanoacrylate fuming. Students should understand terminology such as bifurcation, ridges, island, enclosure, loop, whorl, and arch. Students should be able to answer questions about skin layers and how fingerprints are formed. Students may be asked questions on the different methods of detecting fingerprints and the chemistry behind each of these methods.

3. THE COMPETITION:

d. Crime Scene Physical Evidence:

ii. DNA: Students may be asked to compare DNA chromatograms/electropherograms from materials found at the scene to those of the suspects. Students will be expected to know how DNA is copied. See http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/chemistry/pcr/index.html

iii. Glass analysis: Students may be asked to use index of refraction to determine the type of a glass found broken at a crime scene. They may be asked to analyze which hole or fractures occurred before others based on a piece of glass available for examination or a picture of a piece of glass.

3. THE COMPETITION:

d. Crime Scene Physical Evidence:

iv. Entomology: Students may be asked to identify how long an animal has been dead based on the type of insects found on the body at the scene.

v. Spatters: Students may be asked to analyze actual spatters or photographs of spatters to determine the angle and velocity with which the liquid approached the solid object bearing the spatter & the spatter origin direction.

vi. Seeds and Pollen: Students may be asked to compare pictures of seeds/pollen found at the scene with either seeds/pollen found on the suspects or seeds/pollen from different country regions.

3. THE COMPETITION:

d. Crime Scene Physical Evidence:

vii. Tracks and Soil: Students may be asked to match tire tracks or footprints found at the scene to tires or shoes of the suspects. Students may be given the composition of soil found at the scene or on the suspects and asked to determine if this implicates any of the suspects.

viii. Blood: Students may be asked to identify the ABO blood type using artificial blood (event supervisor required to provide instructions on how the typing system works) or students may be asked to identify if a blood sample, either prepared microscope slide or pictures of microscope slide is human, avian, mammalian, or reptilian/amphibian.

ix. Bullet striations: Students may be asked to match the striations on bullets or casings found at the crime scene and fired from a given gun.

3. THE COMPETITION:

e. Analysis of the Crime: Students will be asked to write an analysis of the crime scene explaining not only which pieces of evidence implicate which suspect and why the suspect(s) was (were) chosen as the culprit(s), but also why the other suspects were not chosen. They will also answer any other crime scene analysis questions posed by the event supervisor.

f. The collected evidence and other data given could be used in a mock crime scene.

4. SCORING:

Team with the highest score wins. Time will not be used for scoring. The score will be composed of the following elements (percentages given are approximate):

a. Part 3.a. 20%, Part 3.b. 20%, Part 3.c.15%, Part 3.d. 15%, and 3.e. 30%.

b. Tiebreaker: Ties will be broken by the highest score on the analysis of the crime scene, which includes thereasons why certain suspects have been eliminated or others remain in the pool of possible criminals.

c. A 10% penalty may be given if the area is not cleaned up as designated by the event supervisor.

Recommended Resources: Reference and training resources including the Forensics CD are available on the Official Science Olympiad Store or Website at http://www.soinc.org

See General Rules, Eye Protection & other Policies on www.soinc.org as they apply to every event.

SOINC.ORG Go to https://

www.soinc.org/frequently_asked_questions and https://www.soinc.org/official_rules_clarif to see frequently asked questions and rules clarifications for every event.

The Official Rules Clarifications and FAQs apply to all states and all tournaments and originate at the National level (please check your Regional or State Website for special updates pertaining to your regional or state events).

Which students should do Forensics?

Two students who will be able to work independently. In this event, divide and conquer. A lot to do in 50 minutes.

Students who can stay organized.

Students who can work quickly.

KEYS FOR COACHING

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE The major part of this event is

identification of different things. A lot of lab process skills and knowledge

are required. Students have to spend a lot of time

practicing to do well.

KEYS FOR COACHING

This event requires a high degree of knowledge and skill.

Students will do better if they are in a chemistry class or have taken a chemistry class.

Students have to work quickly to finish the event.

KEYS FOR COACHING

The key to doing well is instruction, practice, practice, practice, and testing.

Designate different tasks to each of the two team members. Students should become specialists in particular areas.

Create a toolkit/toolbox for the students containing all of the items they may take into the competition.

KEYS FOR COACHINGHave students keep a notebook to record all of their observations about the different tests and results done on each substance.

Students should create their own system for identification. Don’t rely on published ID schemes.

A binder can be helpful to allow students to organize the information they need to know for this event.

It may be best to keep the binder simple. Only include the most necessary information.

Caution: A binder can become a crutch. It is more often a hindrance than a help. Big Binder = Time Wasted looking for information.

KEYS FOR COACHING Qualitative Analysis Learning how to identify the 15 solids takes a lot of

time. Practice as often as possible. Prepare individual solid samples for the students to

identify. Get help from the chemistry teacher.

Polymers – Plastics Obtain samples of pure plastics for testing, or use

non-colored plastic containers. Colored samples may give misleading test results. For plastics samples:

www.handsonplastics.com

KEYS FOR COACHING Polymers – Fibers and Hairs

Fibers can be obtained at fabric stores.

Hair samples may need to be ordered from scientific supply companies. Images from the internet seem to be suitable.

Polymers – Plastics, Fibers, and Hairs

Flame tests on plastics, fibers, and hairs should be done in a fume hood.

Use a candle flame to observe the effect of heat on the sample. Hold the sample above the flame and observe the melting or shriveling of the sample. Burning the sample may not be necessary.

Chromatography

Use water-based colored markers and filter paper for chromatography tests. See the SO site for instructions on chromatography and reading chromatograms.

KEYS FOR COACHING Spectroscopy There are many good university websites with

information about analyzing mass spectra. Search: mass spectrometry analysis. (MSU and Arizona)

There are many online videos of how a spectrometer works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-wao0O0_qM

Crime Scene Physical Evidence This part is usually answering questions about

the different items. There are usually a lot of pictures to either identify or match with other pictures. The information for the nine items in this section are probably best suited for the binder.

KEYS FOR COACHING Analysis of the Crime Scene This part takes a lot of time. If the students

are efficient doing the testing of the evidence, they should have 15 – 20 minutes to write for this part.

Students need to practice organizing their thoughts to present their evidence in a logical, orderly way. Consider the audience who has to read this part.

Don’t say who did, or did not do, the crime, but supply evidence to suggest the most likely suspect and why other suspects may be excluded. Evidence, evidence, evidence.

QUESTIONS? See your friendly, neighborhood

chemistry teacher. Look up information on the internet.

https://www.soinc.org/forensics_c The above link has resources from

the NSO Chemistry Committee chair, Lin Wozniewski – excellent notes

http://www.scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Test_Exchange#Forensics