Crime Scene Chemistry for the Armchair Sleuth (Hardcover)
Review
“…well organized, sprinkled with interesting analogies and written in inviting, understandable language.” — American Scientist, Nanoviews, Vol. 96, July/August 2008.
Product Description
Chemists and science authors Cathy Cobb and Monty L. Fetterolf have teamed up with Jack G. Goldsmith, fellow chemist and reserve police officer, to create another intriguing trek through the science of chemistry, this time using the fascinating field of forensic chemistry as their framework. All new hands-on demonstrations and fictional minute mysteries illustrate chemical concepts as the authors present the science–and the realities–of forensic chemistry in a narrative style that makes this timely topic accessible to the nonchemist. The authors lead you through actual and simulated forensic techniques such as · presumptive and confirmative drug testing · body fluid identification including luminol testing · DNA analysis · trace fiber and gun shot residue analysis · latent fingerprint development and collection · forensic soil analysis Through more than twenty-five demonstrations, using ordinary household products and items, you can become familiar with the basics of forensic chemistry and gain insights into the painstaking work that goes into criminal investigations that is rarely seen on TV.
If you’re a fan of true-crime stories or mystery fiction, or interested in the science behind dramas like CSI, this informative and entertaining book is a must-have addition to your library.
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An introduction to the basic science behind forensic chemistry, this book gives a realistic appraisal of the time and levels of certainty behind the ta-da of television and movies. It includes experiments using common household products for those of us who wished we had gotten a chemistry set for Christmas. Highly recommended for mystery writers.
Law enforcement processes depend heavily upon chemistry to analyze crime findings and build cases: that’s why CRIME SCENE CHEMISTRY is so important an acquisition for any college-level collection strong in either science or criminology. Chapters follow a chemist and a reserve police officer to examine just how evidence is collected and what happens in the field of forensic chemistry, surveying the testing and analytical processes involved in gathering evidence. It’s a ‘must’ for any serious college-level library strong in either chemistry or criminal science.