Chemical Methods for Developing Latent Fingerprints

In this Activity, students collect fingerprints and use three different methods to develop them: fingerprint powder, ninhydrin solution, and silver nitrate solution. The Activity could be related to the solubility of polar and nonpolar molecules, precipitation reactions, and oxidation-reduction reactions. The major organic and inorganic components of sweat can be discussed in a biochemistry course. The adhesion of fingerprints powders to constituents of sweat are a surface chemistry example of adsorption.

Citation: 

Sodhi, G. S.; Kaur J.; 1999, 76, 488A.

Year: 
1999
issue: 
4
Page: 
488A
Article type: