This document discusses three important problems that may arise in investigations involving firearms: (1) determining if someone fired a gun barehanded, (2) determining the gunshot range or distance between gun and victim, and (3) determining the time of firing. It then provides details on black powder and smokeless powder used in ammunition and how nitrates from these powders can be detected on hands, clothing, and around wounds to help solve these problems. The diphenylamine-paraffin test is described as a method to detect nitrates embedded in skin and determine if someone fired a gun barehanded.
This document discusses three important problems that may arise in investigations involving firearms: (1) determining if someone fired a gun barehanded, (2) determining the gunshot range or distance between gun and victim, and (3) determining the time of firing. It then provides details on black powder and smokeless powder used in ammunition and how nitrates from these powders can be detected on hands, clothing, and around wounds to help solve these problems. The diphenylamine-paraffin test is described as a method to detect nitrates embedded in skin and determine if someone fired a gun barehanded.
This document discusses three important problems that may arise in investigations involving firearms: (1) determining if someone fired a gun barehanded, (2) determining the gunshot range or distance between gun and victim, and (3) determining the time of firing. It then provides details on black powder and smokeless powder used in ammunition and how nitrates from these powders can be detected on hands, clothing, and around wounds to help solve these problems. The diphenylamine-paraffin test is described as a method to detect nitrates embedded in skin and determine if someone fired a gun barehanded.
This document discusses three important problems that may arise in investigations involving firearms: (1) determining if someone fired a gun barehanded, (2) determining the gunshot range or distance between gun and victim, and (3) determining the time of firing. It then provides details on black powder and smokeless powder used in ammunition and how nitrates from these powders can be detected on hands, clothing, and around wounds to help solve these problems. The diphenylamine-paraffin test is described as a method to detect nitrates embedded in skin and determine if someone fired a gun barehanded.
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CRI 023 – FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
In the investigation of crimes involving the use
of firearms, three most important problems may arise. (1) The first and probably of primary importance is the problem of determining whether or not a person has fired a gun with bare hands within a pertinent period of time. (2) The other is the means of determining the probable gunshot range i.e., the distance the firearm held from the body of the victim at the time of discharged. (3) A third problem may come up when the time of firing of the gun becomes an issue. 1. Black Powder – because of its inherent defects modern ammunition plants abandoned the use of this. It is possibly the oldest known explosive. It is consists of an intimate mixture of charcoal – 15%, sulfur – 10% and potassium or sodium nitrate – 75%. When exploded in open space the following reaction occurs: 2KNO3 + 3C + S 3CO2 + K2S + N2 This reaction holds true if the composition of the powder is uniform, pure and no other side reactions take place. Slight difference in composition cannot be avoided as well as side reactions cannot be controlled. 2. Smokeless powder – is the most widely used propellant. It can be either be a single based propellant or double propellant. It is consists of cellulose nitrate or glyceryl nitrate combined with cellulose nitrate and some stabilizers. Among the stabilizers used are nitrates, bichromates and oxalates. Some of the organic stabilizers are nitrobenzene, graphite and Vaseline. Stabilizers are added to reduce side reactions. These combine with products of decomposition and may have a negative or positive catalytic effect. When exploded the following reactions occur: C12H1404(NO3)6 9 CO + 3N2 + 7H2O + 3CO2 (Cellulose nitrate) 4C3H3(NO3)3 12CO2 + 10H2O + 6N2 + O2 (Glyceryl nitrate) It will be notice that nitrates are present in both gun powders so that one will expect to find nitrates (NO3) in the following: 1. Residue of the barrel of the gun 2. In or around the wound 3. On the clothing of the person fired upon at close range 4. On the exposed surfaced of the hand a. Type and caliber of the ammunition – different types of ammunition fired in the same weapon and from the same distance may give different pattern. b. Length of the barrel of the gun – a weapon with 2 inches barrel will deposit residues over a larger area than a weapon having a five inches barrel even though they are fired at the same distance and with the same type of ammunition. c. Distance of the muzzle of the gun from the target. d. Humidity – affects the spend with which powder burns. Powder having lesser amount of moisture will burn more rapidly and completely within a given time yielding greater amount of residue. e.Wind velocity and direction – in high winds the residue will be blown in the directions of the wind yielding a scattered pattern. f. Direction of firing – firing vertically, slightly greater than firing horizontally from the same distance. Power residues have weight.When gun is fired downward or vertically all of the residence will fall on the target, but when fired horizontally some of the residues are likely to fall short of the target. The burned residues are partially burned particles may escape around the breech of the gun and implanted on the exposed surface of the hand firing the gun and the presence of this particles serves as a basis for the diphenylamine-paraffin test (DPA-Paraffin Test). At the instance of discharge there is a certain amount of gases and mixture of burned residues and partially burned particles that escape from the breech of the gun. These particles strike the exposed surface of the hand holding the weapon and became implanted into the skin. Diphenylamine Test - a test to determine whether a person fired a gun or not with bare hands. Procedures: a. Paraffin Test - the taking of the cast to extact the nitrates embedded or implanted in the skin. b. Diphenylamine Test – the chemical aspect of the test. It determines the presence and distribution of nitrates. Reagent: Diphenylamine reagent (0.5 gram diphenylamine crystals dissolved in 100 ml of sulfuric acid and 20 ml of water).
Visible Result: Deep blue specks that develop when nitrates comes in contact with diphenylamine reagent. 1. The test is not specific for nitrates since the role of nitrate is simply oxidizing agent. The test cannot determine the source of nitrate. 2. There are other substances which contain nitrate oxidizing agents that are not in the ordinary course of life like fertilizers, explosives, tobacco, firecrackers, urine, cosmetics and detergents. 3. In general persons do not have nitrates or other oxidants on their hands as a matter of common occurrence. 4. Hands contaminated with nitrates from other sources than gunpowder or any oxidant one will expect to find either a smear blue color or conglomeration of blue specks located at the different places of the hand both dolsar and palmar aspects. 1. It is possible that the gunpowder particles may have been blown on the hand directly from the barrel of the gun being fired by another person. 2. An attempt to shield the body by raising the hand would in some instances result in the implanting of powder particles on the hand of a person close to one firing a gun. 1. Use of automatic pistol 2. Direction of the wind 3. Wind velocity 4. Excessive precipitation 5. Use of gloves 6. Knowledge of chemicals that will remove the nitrates 7. Washing of hands In cases involving shooting incidents where paraffin test is required, the person suspected to have fired a gun should be subjected to diphenylamine-paraffin test immediately and in no case should it be postponed seventy-two (72) hours after shooting. It is possible to detect nitrates as late as three days even though the hands have been washed. In our country the period is reduced to two days only due to excessive perspiration. The clothing of the victim with bullet perforation should be submitted for possible gunshot range.
