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The Home Scientist 009 - Forensic Fingerprinting III: Superglue

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Uploaded by on Jan 22, 2010

Using superglue to reveal latent fingerprints on glass or other nonporous surfaces.

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Uploader Comments (TheHomeScientist)

  • how do you make soot to reveal fingerprints on light objects?

  • @sweetsensation115

    Fill a beaker, test tube, or similar glass vessel with cold water. Light a candle, and use it to "smoke" the glass, depositing lampblack on the glass surface. You can also use soot from a fireplace or similar source.

  • i am not a chemistry expert, could you please tell me how to prepare the accelerating NaOH solution?

  • @carlos10047275

    The concentration is not at all critical. Simply dissolve a small amount of sodium hydroxide in a small amount of water and use it to saturate the cotton. Be very careful with sodium hydroxide. Dissolving it generates a lot of heat, and both the solid and the solution are corrosive and extremely dangerous to your eyes.

  • what about a higher concentration of sodium hydroxide, perhaps 10%? Should it speed up the reaction?

  • @carlos10047275

    Maybe, but probably not. I haven't really looked into the details, but I believe the reaction is base-catalyzed, so any reasonable amount of hydroxide should have about the same effect.

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  • Dear Mr. Robert! Thanks a lot for this great help. Your videos have helped amzingly we, csi´s of Brazil.

    I would like to ask you if you have some book about the theme. Or planning to publicize some book?

    I wait for reply.

    Thank you!

    Pablo

  • Can you explain more about the role of NaOH, is it just generating heat by RXN that is causing the cyanoacrylate to vaporize?

  • How long would it take without the sodium hydroxide?

  • @carlos10047275 sodum hydroxide is costic soda you can get it from store

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