Ohio University Forensic Chemistry Lab, Fingerprinting

[grivera92]

what liquid are you adding to the cyanoacrylate to see the fingerprints in the bag?

i'm doing this lab activity soon

[massspecguru]

Cyanoacrylate was added to an accelerator. The accelerator is a brown-paper-like substance which helps the cyanoacrylate evaporate. The polymer film develops faster in humid, basic conditions, so we sometimes add a beaker of hot water to the chamber, too.

[ninjacops100]

I didn't know that OSU had a forensics lab. Thanks for sharing.

[massspecguru]

Just to clarify, we are Ohio University (Athens, OH), not Ohio State University (Columbus, OH). As far as I know, we are the only forensic chemistry program in the state of Ohio.

[MrCriticize]

These students are obviously cut out for the job as they were shades and dress all in black but where's the slick cgi effects? Where's the computer that finds a perfect match in seconds? this is fake

[thinkladythink]

I would think people working in such an important Lad would be required to put up hair in a net ... people that work with food are reqirred too and people tring to solve a crime should also .. so that lab and samples are not contaminated, These people hold peoples lives in their hands, no wonder there are innocent people in jail and manics walking the streets... cross contamanation is as bad as the crimes,

[ashleimytho]

hey im 10 and i would like to know if you can send me information about forensic science and about forensic chemist

[massspecguru]

We provide a number of articles about forensic science and forensic chemistry careers on our program's website. The link is here: ohio.edu/chemistry/forensic/ca­reer_information

[IamAtree000001]

is there a big computer bank of finger prints? like what do they do when they find finger prints

[massspecguru]

Yes, there is a national database called AFIS (Automated fingerprint identification system) which is managed by the FBI. Some states also have their own AFIS databases.

[einstine1958]

30 mins to 1 hour for best results, should also remember to close off the chamber for ventilation safety good work with your demonstration

[Armoredsaint2000]

So if there were multiple people touching the baggie, won't there be a collouge of fingerprints on it?

If the fingerprints are mixed in one another, how will they be detectable?

[wadosbn4lyf]

when finger prints over lap can they identify a person? like finger prints on door knob

[massspecguru]

Theoretically, this is possibly, but in practice one rarely will obtain two prints of good enough quality to permit deconvolution of the two prints.

[spookyooda]

so can you lift the print after the iodine reveals it? and if so how long have we got to do this?

[massspecguru]

Good question. The students photographed the prints immediately after developing and lifted the prints within a few more minutes. The lifted prints were submitted by the students in their lab reports, but they were returned to the students after we graded them, so I can't tell you how long they lasted.

Thanks for your interesting question.

Dr. J.

[massspecguru]

We just repeated this lab in spring 2009. The iodine starts to evaporate after only a few seconds, so photographs must be taken within a minute or two of removing the samples form the iodine chamber.

Dr. J.

[einstine1958]

the process works for 2-4 hours i was told by my criminstics professor

[krazlilangl]

Thanks! Helped me with a Chemistry project!

[ebstarzz]

this really helped me with my science assessment :) thankyou

[ebstarzz]

you guys really heled in my science assesment thanks :)