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Lesson 7

Learning Module 7 : CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF DOCUMENT

EXAMINATION (PAPER AND INKS)

Compe Competence, Course Outcomes, and Learning Outcomes

Course Outcomes:

1. Familiarize with the principles involved in the chemical examination of the physical
evidence for law enforcement purpose
2. Identify various methods used in the chemical examination of physical evidence for the
the solution to crime.
3. Appreciate the study of forensic chemistry and toxicology as a scientific
medium in crime detection and solution;
4. Develop necessary skills in the manipulation of different apparatus used in the
examination of physical evidence to the solution of the crime.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Describe the characteristics of papers and inks.

2. Identify the essential materials in the document examination.
3. List down the chemical aspects of the document examination.
4. Differentiate the different types of papers and inks.
5. Determine the approximate age of the document
6. Compare and contrast document specimens for scientific investigation.

Overview
Lesson 7 covers of the examination of the chemical aspects of documents on paper
and inks.

At first, it seems that the examination of questioned documents is hardly within the
province chemist, but if we consider the fact that the essential materials in a document
examination of any kind are the paper and ink or pencil, and the chemical examination of
inks, papers, erasures, alterations, and sequence of writing is often associated with such
examination, it will be very evident that there is a large amount of purely chemical work in
documentation examination.

 
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Discussion

1. Key Concept

Document
An official paper
that gives
information about
something or that
is used as proof of
something .

Paper
The material that is
used in the form of
thin sheets for
writing or printing
on, wrapping things,
etc.

Ink
Colored liquid that is
used for writing or
printing
Main Tasks:

7.1 CARE, PRESERVATION, AND TRANSPORTATION OF DOCUMENTS

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Documents are precious things and therefore they should be treated

accordingly.
They should be handled, folded, and marked as little as possible.
If folding is necessary to send the document to the laboratory, the fold
should be made folded old lines.
Manila envelopes made of sufficiently hard paper may be used for
transportation but it is preferable to use glass lines or other transparent
envelopes.
The advantage of using transparent envelopes is the facility of identifying and
even examining the document without handling it.
On the receipt of the document: The examiner should place it without
folding, even though it may have been folded previously, between sheets of
plain white paper in a cardboard cover.
The examination should be made on a clean table on which there should not
be any bottles containing inks, liquid, or chemicals that could soil or damage
the document if accidentally upset, and even reagents to be used for the test
should be placed elsewhere.
Documents should not be touched with a pen, pencil, or anything that could
possible mark them.
A document must be photographed before the examination to preserve its
exact condition on receipt.
For photographic purposes, the document should not be pinned or nailed to
keep it in place but should be placed on a piece of cardboard with a sheet of
clear glass without flaws or color and should be held in position in an
adjustable wooden frame.

7.2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Scrutiny is first made of the document as a hole in the usual way be reflected light.
By transmitting by ultra-violet light, both sides of the paper being inspected.
The document is then examined in detail with a lens and any doubtful portions
examined further with a stereoscope, special search being made for evidence of
alterations erasures or when the sequence of writing is in question an enlarged
photograph will be found very helpful

7.3 EXAMINATION AND COMPARISON OF PAPER

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In the examination of the age of document, alterations, erasures, and other

forms of forgery, the examination of the paper may be necessary.

7.3.1 Evolution of Paper Development

One of the earliest substances used for writing was Egyptian papyrus, the
pith of which was sliced into layers that were beaten and pressed together
into sheets and it is from the name “papyrus” that the word paper was
derived.
After papyrus came parchment and vellum which are still used for many
legal documents, the former being made from the skin of sheep and goats
and the latter from the more delicate skin of calves and kids.
Parchment and vellum were succeeded by rags, at first linen rags, and
afterward a mixture of linen and cotton, or cotton only.
The introduction of paper made from a variety of fibrous materials started
about the middle of the 19th century.
Straw was first used in 1800; from soda wood pulp between 1845 and
1880; from mechanical wood pulp between 1880 1890.
The present ordinary bond paper, is a thin sheet of matted or felted
vegetable fiber, usually wood pulp with a specified amount of filler such as
clay, and sizing such as rosin or starch. These constituents, along with the
physical structure of the sheet itself form the basis for the examination
and comparison of paper.

The history of paper started just after the start of the Gregorian calendar.
Papyrus paper is derived from the Greek word pápyros, the name for the papyrus
plant. This plant grows only on the shorelines of streams in the Middle East, like
the river Nile (a river in Africa which flows into the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt).
The "paper" from the papyrus plant was first used by the Babylonians and
thereafter by the Egyptians (around 3000 B.C.). Also, the Greeks and Romans
used papyrus, amongst others for contractual obligations.
The "paper" from the papyrus plant was made from the stem of the plant. The
outer rind is first stripped off, and the sticky fibrous inner pith is cut lengthwise
into thin strips. The strips are then placed side by side on a hard surface with
their edges slightly overlapping, and then another layer of strips is laid on top at
a right angle. While still moist, the two layers are hammered together, mashing
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the layers into a single sheet. The moisture or juice from the strips functions as
an adhesive between the layers. The sheet is then dried under pressure.

Papyrus Plant

The most common problems encountered in document examination:

1. Whether two pieces of paper originated from the same source.

This is the most important so that considerable emphasis is placed on those
physical characteristics of paper traceable to the manufacturer of the paper such as
the exact size of the paper, the style, and design of the watermark, defects in the
edge of the cutting instrument, etc.

2. The probable age of the paper, and in cases connected with counterfeit bills and
stamps, the composition of the paper.

Erasures
Removal of writings from the paper; may be made by mechanical or
chemical means:
Mechanical: rubber pencil erasures, ink erasures, and knives
Chemical:
an oxidizing agent which bleaches the provisional blue dye of
the ink
a reducing agent remove the ferric tannic by the change of pH
or complex formation

Restoration or Deciphering Erased Writing

1. Visual and Microscopic Examination
The paper is illuminated with light from varying sources, first reflected, then
transmitted and finally oblique; by the naked eye and by the use of a hand lens or
Grennough binocular microscope.
2. Ultra-Violet Light
Some colored ink are fluorescent so that if the erasure has not removed all
the inks from the fibers of the paper, traces may be seen in the interstices of the
paper when viewed under the ultra-violet light

3. Polarized Light
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This is useful for developing pencil writing which was erased; the principle is based
on the fact that traces of graphite which cannot be seen in ordinary light can be
detected in polarized light.

7.3.2. PHYSICAL TESTS CAUSING NO PERCEPTIBLE CHANGE:

The following physical tests may be applied without perceptibility changing or

altering the original appearance of the document:
The bursting strength often termed the “pop test” which is the apparent
the pressure necessary to burst a hole in a sheet of paper when properly inserted in
a
suitable instrument. Several such tests should be made on the sample.
a. The folding endurance of the paper is determined by the use of an instrument that
registers the number of alternate folds the paper will stand before breaking. This
requires several strips a few wide, depending on the instrument used.
b. Accelerated aging tests that are made by heating the entire sheet or a part of the
paper in an oven at a given temperature for several hours or the paper may be
exposed to a strong source of artificial light or ultra-violet light for several hours.
The discoloration of the paper depends upon the aging quality of the paper.

7.3.3 Chemical tests

The tests of paper are accomplished by cutting out very small pieces of the
document and treated with chemicals.

The following tests are recommended:

A. The fiber composition of the paper may be determined by boiling a small piece of the
document in a 5% NaOH solution. The liquid is then poured off and the fragment of paper
is washed and treated out on a glass slide and then suitably stained according to the
following table:

Fiber Iodine (a) Zinc chlor- Phloroglucinol Aniline

iodine (b) (c) Sulfate (d)
Light to dark
Linen and brown Weak to wine Nil Nil
cotton
Straw, esparto, Almost colorless
and wood to light brown
(chemical) (e) Blue Nil Nil (f)
Wood
(mechanical) Yellow to brown Yellow Red (g)

(a) Potassium iodide 2 gms., Iodine 1.5 gms., glycerine 2cc., water 20 cc.
(b) (1) Zinc chloride 20 gms., water 10cc.
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(2) Potassium iodide 2.1 gms. Iodine 0.1 gm., water 5 cc.
Mix (1) and (2) together and allow the mixture to stand and decant off the
clear supernatant liquid for use.
(c) Phloroglucine 1 gm. Water 25 cc., HCl conc. 5cc.
(d) 10% solution
(e) As seen in brown iodine solution
(f) A pink color develops on heating on heating and varies in intensity with the
proportion of straw and esparto present.
(g) Ascertain dyes sometimes present in a paper given red color with HCL, a control
experiment with acid alone should always be made.

B. Sizing tests may be made according to the following procedures:

1. Gelatine: This is extracted by boiling water the paper in water and the
solution obtained is tested with a dilute tannic acid solution. Yellow
precipitate indicates gelatin.
2. Rosin: This is extracted by heating the paper on the bath 95% alcohol.
The solution obtained is evaporated to dryness and the residue dissolved
in acetic anhydride, cooled transferred to a small porcelain dish and a
strong sulfuric acid is added. Reddish-violet color quickly changing to red-
brown shows rosin. A simpler test is to place a few drops of ether on the
paper and if rosin is present a brown ring will be formed when ether
evaporates.
3. Starch: This may be identified on the paper by the blue color which is
produced by the addition of a dilute iodine solution.
4. Casein: This may be detected by the addition of Killons reagent on the
paper. The pink color will be formed if casein is present.

(c) Loading materials may be examined by burning and ashing a portion

of the paper and analyzing the ash.
(d) Absorption test may be made to determine either the rate of
absorption or the total absorption of the paper. This is done by
suspending strips of paper about ½ inch wide cut from the adjacent
edges of the paper in solutions of different kinds such as ink, water, etc.
(e) Test for paraffin, mineral cutting color of the paper acidity, etc. may
be done if sufficient specimens are available.

C. Watermark – the watermark, if present, is one of the most important features in the
comparison of the paper. It is a distinctive mark covered with wire cloth and known as
dandy rolls and serves as a means whereby the paper can be identified as the product of a
particular manufacturer. This dandy roll is made up of several designs all of which are after
may be examined on the paper with the aid of transmitted light. Sometimes a list may be
placed on the age of the document using a watermark, should not be taken as infallible
proof of age since paper earlier date may be used later. Sometimes watermark is forged on
the finished paper using a stamp used with was or an oily medium, which imparts
transparency to that part of the paper where the design appears. Such watermarks can be
removed generally by gentle sponging with other or by exposure to ultra-violet light.
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D. Other miscellaneous tests on paper: - The identification of a tablet or pad in which a

sheet of paper was taken may be important and of greater value than the tracing of the
manufacturer of the paper. The following are some of the clues which may lead to such
identification:

(a) The stub of paper remaining in the tablet if the sheet of paper is carelessly torn
out may be carefully matched with the torn sheet of paper in question.

(b) The edges of the paper, brought about by writing with a considerable amount of
pressure on the sheet immediately above, may be matched with the writing on the
questioned sheet.

(c) The edges of the paper, when examined under low magnification may disallow
certain irregularities which are due to defects in the edges of the knife or cutting instrument
similar to the marking on a piece of wood made with a damaged ax blade.

(d) Fragment of the glue or other adhesive found clinging to the top edge of the
sheet in question may be given to the color, size, and exact location of the fragment in
question.

(e) The transfer of ink writing to a sheet of paper immediately above should be
considered, particularly if the writing was done in a notebook that was closed before the ink
was dry or if blotted attached to a table next to the front cover. A small mirror may be used
to read the message if legible.

7.3 INK COMPOSITION

Inks mainly consist of colorants (dyes and/or pigments) and vehicles (solvents and
resins), as well as a variety of other ingredients such as antioxidants, preservatives,
and trace elements, which when combined are collectively considered the ink
formulation.
These characteristics apply to writing inks, stamp inks, inkjet inks, typewriter inks,
and commercial printing processes that utilize inks, such as offset lithography,
flexography, and intaglio.

This description does not apply to dry toner – printing material commonly used in
photocopiers, laser printers, and some facsimile machines. Dry toner has a different
composition to facilitate a markedly different process for printing a document and is
discussed later.
Thermal transfer printing applies to printing processes that utilize heat to produce
an image by either physical or chemical means or by a combination of both.

7.4 ANALYSIS OF INK

The examination of the ink writing on a questioned document is a work for the
chemist-document-examiner.
A handwriting expert, if not a chemist or one who has considerable experience in
analytical work, should not attempt to undertake this kind of work since the
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examination of two or more writings of comparatively recent origin requires the
greatest chemical skill.
The admonition is in keeping with the spirit of the advice offered by Mitchell and
Lucas concerning the role of the chemist in document examination.

The most common problems encountered in the examination of documents are

concerned with the age of the ink.
The problems of alterations, erasures, and sequences of writing are only secondary
importance since these questions may be solved without resorting to ink analysis.

7.4.1 Types of Ink:

1. Gallotanic ink
The most frequently used for marking entries in record books and
business purposes in general
The ink was originally an Arabic invention- a solution of iron salt and nut-gall
Ink can penetrate in the interstices of the fibers thereby inscribing the writing in the
body of the paper and not merely on the surface, thus marking its removal more
difficult to accomplish
The color changes undergone by gallotannic ink in the process of oxidation provides
a valuable means of estimating the approximate age of writing:
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Result: very blue to the naked eyes, means very recent

violet means less recent
black, less recent

2. Logwood Ink
Runge used logwood extract with potassium chromate as the principal
constituent of a new type of ink.
In 1857, alum. copper sulfate and logwood extract were used.
In 1875, copper sulfate and logwood were mixed to form a variation
of logwood ink
Iron compounds were never used.
1882 potassium dichromate was used as the principal ingredient to be
added to logwood extract; hydrochloric acid was used to prevent the
formation of a precipitate and phenol to act as a preservative.
Contains two well-defined compounds: hematoxylin and haematin

Result: black on drying and standing

deepest black, with chromium

3. Nigrosine or Aniline Inks

A water solution of the synthetic black compound prepared from
aniline and nitrobenzene was introduced as blue-black or purple-black
for stylographic pens - Nigrosine Ink also is known as Induline Ink
and Black Aniline Ink
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4. Carbon Chinese or India Inks

It is the oldest ink material known; it was employed by the ancient
Egyptians or other nations of antiquity and is still largely in Egypt and
the East.
It was made anciently probably from soot scraped from cooking
vessels
Today, finely divided carbon is held in colloidal suspension and used
to produce deep black drawing and writing
It does not penetrate deeply into the fibers of the papers that it will
easily wash off – thus will resist all attempts of analysis at the
oxidation

5. Colored Writing Inks

Formerly colored ink was manufactured from coloring materials found
like indigo.
Today, almost all colored inks composed of synthetic aniline dyestuffs
dissolve in water more permanent.

6. Ball-Point Pen Inks

It is made of lightfast dyes soluble in glycol type solvents soluble in
glycol type of solvents
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7. Invisible Ink (Secret Ink)

Also known as security ink or sympathetic ink, is a substance used for writing,

which is invisible either on application or soon thereafter, and can later be made
visible by some means. Invisible ink is one form of steganography.

General Application and use:

Invisible ink can be applied to a writing surface with a specialty

purpose stylus, stamp, fountain pen, toothpick, calligraphy pen, or even a finger
dipped in the liquid. Once dry, the written surface looks as if it were blank, with a
similar texture and reflectivity as the surrounding surface.
The ink can be later made visible by different methods according to the type of
invisible ink used. The ink may be revealed by heat or by application of an
appropriate chemical, or it may be made visible by viewing under ultraviolet light.
Inks that are developed by a chemical reaction may depend on an acid-base
reaction (like litmus paper), reactions similar to the blueprint process, or any of
hundreds of others. Developer fluids may be applied using a spray bottle, but some
developers are in the form of vapor, e.g. ammonia fumes used to
develop phenolphthalein ink.

There are also toy invisible ink pens which have two tips—one tip for invisible ink
writing, and another tip for developing the ink. Invisible ink is sometimes used to
print parts of pictures or text in books for children to play with, always including a
"decoder pen" which is used to show the invisible parts of texts or pictures, thus
revealing answers to questions printed in regular ink or completing missing parts of
pictures.
Properties of an “ideal” invisible ink

1. Mixes with water.

2. Non-volatile, i.e. no pronounced smell.
3. Not depositing crystals on paper, i.e. not easily seen in glancing light.
4. Invisible under ultraviolet light.
5. Does not decompose or discolor the paper e.g. silver nitrate.
6. Nonreactive with iodine, or with any of the other usual developers.
7. Potential developers for the ink should be as few as possible.
8. Should not develop under heat.
9. Easily obtainable and has at least one plausible innocent use by the holder.
10.Not a compound of several chemicals, as this would violate No. 7.

Screening letters for secret messages

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Telltale signs of invisible ink, such as pen scratches from a sharp pen, roughness, or
changed reflective of the paper (either duller or shinier, usually from using undiluted
ink), can be obvious to a careful observer who simply makes use of strong light, a
magnifying glass and his or her nose.
Also, keywords in the visible letter, such as "heat" or any other odd code name, in an
out of place context may alert a censor to the presence of invisible ink. Invisible ink
is not effective with glossy or very smooth paper types, since the sizing of these
papers prevents ink from being absorbed deep into the paper and it is easily visible,
especially if the paper is examined under glancing light.
Invisible ink types:

 Cola drink
 The honey solution, sugar (sugar turns into caramel by dehydration)
 Lemon, apple, orange, or onion juice (organic acids and the paper forms ester under
heat)
 Milk (lactose dehydrates)
 Bodily fluids such as blood serum.
 Soap water (carboxylic partially oxidizes)
 Wine, or vinegar
 Cobalt chloride, which turns blue when heated and becomes invisible again after a
while (if not overly heated)
The writing is rendered visible by heating the paper, either on a radiator, by ironing it, using
a hairdryer, or by placing it in an oven. A 100-watt light bulb is less likely to damage the
paper.

Inks Developed by Chemical Reaction

In most cases, these substance changes color when mixed with an acid or base.

 Phenolphthalein, commonly used as a pH indicator, turns pink in the presence of a

base such as ammonia fumes or sodium carbonate.
 Vinegar is revealed by red cabbage water. Vinegar contains acetic acid that affects
the pH indicator in red cabbage water. Vinegar may also be developed by heat, as
above.
 Ammonia, developed by red cabbage water.
 Copper sulfate, developed by sodium iodide, sodium carbonate, ammonium
hydroxide, or potassium ferricyanide.
 Lead(II) nitrate, developed by sodium iodide.
 Iron(II) sulfate, developed by sodium carbonate or potassium ferricyanate.
 Cobalt(II) chloride, developed by potassium ferricyanide.
 Iron(III) sulfate, developed by sodium sulfide.
 Starch, developed by iodine solution which turns starch dark blue and the paper light
blue.
 Lemon juice, developed by iodine solution (ink turns white, the paper turns light
blue).
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 Sodium chloride (common table salt), developed by silver nitrate.
 Cerium oxalate developed by manganese sulfate and hydrogen peroxide[12][13]

Inks visible under ultraviolet light

A US$20 bill showing a visible stripe under an ultraviolet light

Some inks glow faintly (fluoresce) when under an ultraviolet lamp. This is a property
of many substances, particularly organic substances and body fluids.
Other inks work in a near opposite way by absorbing ultraviolet light but without fluorescing.
When these are used on fluorescent paper, the inked areas fluoresce less than the
surrounding paper area when under an ultraviolet lamp. This is especially a property of inks
with a yellow tint.
Some UV-visible inks may be detected on a photocopy, due to the relatively strong
ultraviolet component in light from the photocopier scanning head.
Examples of inks revealed by ultraviolet light are:

 Laundry detergents containing optical brighteners

 Soap
 Body fluids, serum, saliva
 Sunscreen
 Lemon juice
Inks which alter the surface of the paper
This includes virtually all invisible inks, but pure distilled water can also be used in this way.
The application of any fluid will alter the paper surface fibers or sizing.
Fumes created from heating iodine crystals will develop the writing, which will appear brown
because the iodine sticks preferentially to the altered areas of the paper. Exposing the paper
to strong sunlight will return the writing to its invisible state, as will using a bleach solution.
Slightly dampening paper with a sponge or by steam and then drying it before writing a
message will prevent writing from being developed by this method, but overdoing
dampening will result in telltale paper cockling.

7.4.2 PHYSICAL METHOD USED IN THE EXAMINATION OF INK

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a.
The

document must be the first photograph to record its appearance at the

the time it was submitted for examination.

b. The whole document and then parts in questions should be examined with
the naked eye, using reflected light and then transmitted light. Ultra-violet light
may be used to detect marks and other stains present in the document not visible
with the naked eye.

c. Series of colored fibers should be employed to view the document and

difference detected should be photographed.

d. An infra-red photograph should always be made to obtain,

possible, some differentiation between ink writings or to detect other differences
that may exist in the subject matter under examination.

7.4.3 CHEMICAL METHODS USED IN THE EXAMINATION OF INKS

a. The reagents commonly used are acids, alkalines, reducing, and

oxidizing agents, and reagents that will detect individual constituents of ink like iron.
b. Technics is external by removal from the document of the ink before
examination
c. Ward’s method: use of capillary tube from with a small drop reagents
is added to the ink stroke; the drop is protected with a small watch glass and the
the reagent is left in contact with the ink for two minutes.
Disadvantage: Inks being examined will not dissolve in the solvent, thus,
limiting the applicability of the method in a direction which has made it
extremely valuable if could be applied in every case
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d. Metzger and Heese method: involve the actual removal of a portion of

document; without this preliminary, the test cannot be carried out

e. Carrel’s method: applied the principle of “decoupage” which give the

minimum damage to the document; consist of the actual transfer of a portion of the
document to the external medium and the transferred of the ink accompanied by the
a small portion of the cellulose substratum to an external medium.

7.5 DETERMINING THE APPROXIMATE AGE OF A DOCUMENT

There are two main

factors which help
in the determination of the true age of a document:

1. Age of Inks
The color is black, are based on the observation that within a few hours the color of
the ink writing becomes perceptibly, darker because the dye
contained therein is influenced by the light of the room, the oxygen of the air, and the
acidity or alkalinity of the paper.
If the writing is made with gallotannic ink, the color undergoes an orderly series of
change: first reaching a maximum degree of blackening the first year or two, then
gradually fading out over many years until only a rust-colored deposit remains

7.5.1 DETERMINING AGE OF INK PHOTOGRAPHY

The approximate age of the ink and the distinction between two documents written
one year or less may be established by the use of filters and paper
chromatography.

“This method of examination used in the Palomo case where the opinion of the writer, which was
supported by photographs, was sustained by the late Judge Ibanez. In that case, the documents
were established to have written with the same pen by measuring the width of the writings, with
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the same ink taken from the same bottle by applying paper chromatography and executed within
less than a week and not one year as the alleged application of photography using color filters.

7.5.2 AGE OF THE PAPER

The age of the document may be estimated from the paper; sometimes a
limit may be placed to the age of the document using the watermarks, the
earliest known dating from 1282.
A document is a fraud if it contains a watermark that was not in existence at
the time the document purports to have been executed.
The individual parts of the dandy roll are subject to wear and tear which
become progressively more as time goes by

7.5.3. AGE OF THE DOCUMENT MAY ALSO BE ESTABLISHED FROM

HANDWRITING

Illegible Writing

The investigator requests the assistance of the laboratory to developed certain

illegible writings or other messages that may be discovered written with invisible inks
and it becomes incumbent to the technical staff to develop and decipher such
messages.
Documents not connected with any crime are also submitted to the laboratory to
make legible writing which has become faint or illegible because of wear, exposure,
immersion, or other abuse.

Erasures

It means the removal of writings from the paper; may be made by mechanical or
chemical means: Rubber pencil erasures, ink erasures, and knives are examples of

abrasive materials that are used for mechanical erasures; chemical indicators:
made of an oxidizing agent which bleaches the provisional blue dye of the ink, if of
the gallotannic type, and another agent which remove the ferric tannate by the
change of pH, reduction, or complexion formation

Restoration or Deciphering Erased Writing

1. Visual and Microscopic Examination

The paper is illuminated with light from varying sources, first reflected, then
transmitted, and finally oblique.
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2. Ultra-Violet Light
Some colored ink is fluorescent so that if the erasures have not removed all
the inks from the fibers of the paper, traces may be seen in the interstices of the
paper when viewed under the ultra-violet light.

3. Polarized Light
This is useful for developing pencil writing which was erased; based on the
fact that traces of graphite which cannot be seen in the ordinary light can be
detected in polarized light; the light transmitted through a polarizing screen is used
in photography may be used on the document may be viewed through the power of
the polarizing microscope.

4. Photography
A photograph of the erased surface may be made using the process film,
panchromatic film, or infra-red film; proper filter must be used.
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References
Dascil-Canete, Arlyn M. (2014). Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology, An essential tool
in an effective Criminal Justice System. Wiseman’s Book Trading

Garcia Orodio, Gladys Mae (2014). Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology (with
Laboratory Manual)Purely Books Trading and Publishing Corp.

Salonga, Constacia F. et al. (2006). Manual and Workbook for Forensic

Chemistry. Cagayan, Philippines: [email protected] Center.

https://www.google.com/search?
q=Enzyme+Multiple+Immuno+Assay+Technique&oq=Enzyme+Multiple+Immuno+Assay+Tec
hnique&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.2293j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Forensic chemistry: fundamentals and applications / edited by Jay A. Siegel.

pages cm. – (Forensic science in focus)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-118-89772-0 (cloth)
1. Chemistry, Forensic. 2. Forensic sciences. I. Siegel, Jay A.
RA1057.F66 2015
614′.12–dc23
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Sunico, Lorenzo et al. (2017). Compiled Notes in Forensic Chemistry, Iloilo City,
Philippines.

Checkpoint

Activity 1:
Instruction:
Describe the general features of the following miscellaneous problems in
document examination:

1. Ink from the same bottle

a. Color-Differences
b. Characteristics of margin or strokes
c. Degree of penetration of ink paper
d. Amount of sediment (particularly in blotted or thin portions)
e. Characteristics of color in a blotted portion of writings
2. Sequence of Strokes in Writing
3. Crossing in Folds
4. Problems on Lead Pencil
5. Document Mounted on Other Paper
6. Typewritten Documents
7. Printed Documents
8. Used stamps
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Do this
Activity 2:
MULTIPLE CHOICE: Choose the correct answer from the choices in each item and
write the letter on a piece of paper.
_____ 1. They are essential materials in a document;
a) writing instrument used
b) paper
c) ink
d) b and c
e) none of the above

_____ 2. The proper manner of folding the document before it will be sent to the laboratory
for examination;
a) folded new lines
b) any desired fold
c) folded old lines
d) folded according to size of the document
e) none of the above

_____ 3. The preferred material used to construct suitable envelope;

a) self-sealed plastic
b) parchment
c) cleared photographic films
d) cleared photographic films
e) none of the above
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_____4. During the examination of the document: the table to be used should be;
a) filled up with examination tools
b) clean on which there should not be any bottles containing inks, liquid or
chemicals that covered soil or damage the document
c) tilted at a certain angle to facilitate examination
d) a and c
e) None of the above

_____5. A careful scrutiny is first made of the document as a whole in the usual way by
applying;
a) refracted light
b) reflected light

_____6. They are the type of paper which are used for many legal documents;
a) papyrus
b) rags
c) parchment and vellum
d) bond paper
e) all of the above

_____ 7. The most common problems encountered in document examination which

concerns the analysis of paper are:
a) whether the paper exhibit perceptibility change or alter the original
appearance of the document
b) whether two pieces of paper originated from the same source
c) the probable age of paper
d) b and c only
e) none of the above

_____ 8. Which is NOT included in the physical tests causing no perceptible change;
a) measurement of the length and width of the paper
b) accelerated tests
c) determination of the thickness of the paper
d) texture gloss and finish
e) color of paper

_____ 9. It is the most important features in the comparison of paper;

a) watermark
b) bursting strength
c) weight per unit area of the paper
d) folding endurance
e) none of the above
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____ 10. It is the most significant and primary consideration in the analysis of document;
a) brand of ink
b) type of ink
c) composition of ink
d) age of ink
e) color of ink

____ 11. It is the most frequently used type of ink today for marking entries in record
books and business purposes;
a) Logwood ink
b) Aniline ink
c) India ink
d) Gallotonic ink
e) Ball-Poin Pen Inks

____ 12. The indicator to determine the approximate age of the document;
a) color test for the ink turning black or darker
b) matching the color of the ink with standard colors
c) chemical reaction which may reveal some information concerning in the
length of time the ink has been in the paper
d) a, b, and c only
e) None of the above

____13. They are substances used as invisible (secret ink) and often referred to as;
a) Chinese ink
b) sympathetic ink
c) Ball-Point Pen Ink
d) Colored Writing Ink
e) Gallotonic Ink

____14. The cancellation marks used in documentary and postage stamps may be erased
to appear genuine by the;
a) oxidizing agent for bleaching
b) reduction agent
c) polarizing agent
d) and b only
e) none of the above

____15. Erased writings or markings can be restored or deciphered by using;

a) Ultra-Violet Light
b) Polarized Light
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c) Visual and Microscopic Examination
d) all of the above
e) none of the above

Assessment
CASE STUDY

Instruction:
Read the given sample cases and answer the questions below.
Case study 1
This case scenario involves associating counterfeit documents. Two different driver’s licenses
suspected to be counterfeit were submitted for analysis at different times. Although they
contained different biographical information, photographs, and identification numbers, a
physical examination revealed the barcodes printed on the back of the driver licenses to be the
same. Barcodes on authentic licenses are always unique. A chemical examination of the inks
could help establish whether the barcodes were printed from the same source, or if multiple
suspects used electronic images of the barcodes. A chemical analysis revealed that the
barcodes were created with an inkjet printer, which did not conform to the authentic
specimens. Assume specimen document was presented.

Case study 2
A female reported to authorities that she was receiving numerous letters of a threatening nature
that were becoming progressively more violent. Crayons, markers, and an array of pens used on
different types of paper were used to write the questioned letters. A suspect was developed,
but no fingerprints were identified on the documents and the questioned handwriting was
disguised. Therefore, it was concluded that identification was not feasible based on
comparisons with known handwriting. Investigators obtained a search warrant and during the
search numerous materials were seized, including crayons, markers, pens, a notepad, and ruled
paper. One of the threatening letters was torn and, therefore, was compared with a torn page
from a notepad that belonged to the suspect. A comparison was conducted and it was found that
the torn edges from the letter and the notepad were exactly aligned. The results from this
examination are sometimes referred to as a torn match. Assume specimen document was presented.
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Questions for case study 1 & 2.

1. What evidence can be used to associate a questioned document in the crime scene and/
or victim?
2. Are there other forensic examinations that can be performed?
3. How was the questioned document produced?
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