Last modified: 25 May 2018 11:16
Has a suspect been at a crime scene? Has an accelerant been used in a fire incident? These questions can be solved by using modern analytical methods, which can determine trace element patterns or the presence of a compound used to start a fire. The course covers the underlying theory for identification and determination of, for example, drugs of abuse using structure determination by spectroscopic methods like UV, IR, NMR, mass spectrometry and chromatographic separations. Atomic spectrometry is covered for trace metal determination. In practical classes, students get hands-on training with modern analytical instrumentation, with experiments in a forensic context.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | None. | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course covers the underlying theory of the identification and determination of, for example, poisons such as pesticides or heavy metals in biological fluids, and of alcohol and drugs of abuse in mixtures of organic compounds including their structure determination by spectroscopic methods. This will involve study of the chemical reactions useful in analytical chemistry such as acid-base, complex formation, precipitation, redox and separation by transfer between phases, and also an introduction to both theory and practical experience of modern instrumental methods of analysis, with particular reference to forensic chemistry, and also to the closely related topic of environmental monitoring.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%), laboratory assessment (25%), continuous assessment (15%).
Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).
Formative assessment given during tutorial classes and laboratory classes.
Marks for lab experiments and tutorial exercises available as soon as possible after the assessments; feedback on wrong answers provided. Informal discussion with students in lab sessions.
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