FRS581
Experiment: 2
Tittle: Forensic Explosive Analysis
Name: Saidatina Amy bt Musa
Student ID: 2017155489
Partner's name: 1. Noor Alwani bt Hashim(2017787287)
2. Nor Sakira bt Rosli(2017919949))
Lecturer’s name: Izzharif Halim
Date submission: 7 Oct 2019
Objective
1. To analyze and experience fiber analysis methods in forensic investigation.
2. To identify the amount of explosive content in one sample.
3. O identify the presence of nitrate and nitrite ion in explosive powder.
Methodology
In fiber analysis experiment we were able to experience and analyze the present of nitrate and
nitrite acid in three different type of firecrackers. Each firecracker has different level of explosives
sample. In part A we used sample A, sample B, sample C as our sample. Sample from part A is
sample A which is papan firecracker, sample B is Naga firecracker and sample C is Bola
firecracker. In part B we used Blackpowder I and blackpowder II as sample to be tested on. Each
sample was tested with griess test, diphenylamine test and alcoholic test in part A. In griess test, if
there is formation of red or pink color means there is present of nitrite ion in the sample. In
Diphenylamine test, to know the present of nitrate is by adding sulphuric acid and diphenylamine
reagent with the sample. If the blue color present means there is presence of nitrate. Alcoholic test
is prepared by mixing 10mg alcohol with 100ml absolute alcohol then the sample is added to the
solution. If there is no color change, means there is presence of nitrate.
Part B is to understand the main materials used in detonation. We used black powder I and black
powder II as our sample in this experiment. Method used is brown ring test, nitrite test and sulphur
test. Each of sample was tested by these three methods. Brown ring test we add iron (II) sulphate
to the solution and slowly concentrated sulphuric acid is added that later on will be forming two
layers and brown ring indicste the presence of nitrate ion. In nitrite test 4M sulhphuric is added
until it become acidic and iron (II) sulphate was added later on dark brown solution will arise
indicate the presence of nitrite. Test for sulphur we used microscope. If there is yellow color
presence means there is sulphur in the sample.
Result
Sample A sample B Sample C
Actual Mass (g) Amount of explosive (g)
Sample A 6.588 2.177
Sample B 2.425 1.078
Sample C 5.008 2.924
Method/ Sample Mass sample A (g) Mass sample B (g) Mass sample C (g)
Griess Test 0.0510 0.0500 0.0500
Diphenylamine Test 0.0510 0.0505 0.0510
Alcoholic Test 0.0509 0.0514 0.0505
Method/ Sample Mass of Black powder I (g) Mass of Black powder II (g)
Brown Ring Test 0.0500 0.0512
Nitrite Test 0.0511 0.0509
Sulphur Test 0.0503 0.0510
Part A
Method/ Sample Presence of nitrite or nitrate
Sample
Griess Test Nitrite presence in sample A
Diphenylamine Sample B presence of nitrate
Test
Alcoholic Test Sample A presence of nitrite
Part B
Method/ Browning Ring Test Presence of nitrite or nitrate
Sample
Brown Ring Black powder I presence nitrate
Test
Nitrite Test Balckpowder II presence of nitrtite
Sulphur Black powder I presence of Sulphur
Test
Black powder I
Black powder II
Discussion
Purpose of this experiment is to study and analyze the presence of nitrate and nitrite ion in
explosive powder which is we tested on three sample on part A and two sample in part B. In griess
test method, supposed to if there is presence of red or pink color means there is nitrite presence in
the explosive powder. From the test, we can say that the closest color is in sample A.
diphenylamine test was on the other side, if the blue color presence at the end of th result that’s
mean nitrate presence. While doing diphenylamine test we need to be extra careful because when
sulfuric acid is added with the solid explosive solution, they might boiling a little bit and become
hot. In this test, sample B become blue color means it contains nitrate compare to the other sample
A and sample C turns clear. On alcoholic test, we can say sample A have the nitrite ion due the
unchanged of the color. Sample B and sample C has changed the color. In part B, brown ring and
nitrite test method is used to analyse the presence of nitrite or nitrate ion in each sample black
powder I and black powder II. In brown ring test, black powder I, there is ring presence nut it can't
be really seen because there is only one-layer presence. So, supposed to be they have two layers
and the brown ring is arising. But we can say that compared to black powder II, black powder I
has nitrate ion. In the nitrite test if dark brown solution presence means nitrite is presence. So, in
blackpowder II there is a dark grey presence not really brown. Compared to blackpowder I it turns
out a very clear solution with percipitate thats mean no nitrite presence. For sulphur test,
microscope is used and if there is yellow color can be seen means sulphur presence. From the
result above we can see that blackpowder I has that yellor color so the blackpowder I contain
sulphur.
Conclusion
Based on the result we can conclude that in Griess test method sample A has nitrite ion while
sample B and sample C does not presence. Diphenylamine test method shows that sample B
presence of nitrate ion while sample A and C does not presence. In Alcoholic test, sample A has
nitrite ion because the color does not change while sample B and sample C the color is change. In
part B, the brown ring test is tested and the brown ring arise in Black powder I means there is
presence of nitrate while nothing presence in black powder II. With nitrite test, black powder II
has nitrite ion bc the dark brown solution is form. Last but not least, Sulphur test on micrsocpe
shows that the black powder I has sulphur because we can see a little bit of yellow color presence.
References
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