CONFIDENTIAL AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

FINAL EXAMINATION

COURSE FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

COURSE CODE FRS581
EXAMINATION FEBRUARY 2023
TIME 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This question paper consists of four (4) parts: PART A (3 Questions)

PART B (3 Questions)
PART C (3 Questions)
PART D (3 Questions)

2. Answer ALL questions in the Answer Booklet. Start each answer on a new page.

3. Do not bring any material into the examination room unless permission is given by the invigilator.

4. Please check to make sure that this examination pack consists of:

i. the Question Paper

ii. an Answer Booklet - provided by the Faculty

5. Answer ALL questions in English.

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

This examination paper consists of 8 printed pages

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL 2 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

PART A
Answer all questions

QUESTION 1
Pan Am flight 103: Terrorist bombing, over Lockerbie, Scotland, United Kingdom
[1988]

About 7:00 PM on December 21, 1988, Pan Am flight 103, a Boeing 747 en route to New York
City from London, exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. The plane had reached a height of
approximately 31,000 feet (9,500 metres) and was preparing for the oceanic portion of the
flight when a timer-activated bomb detonated. The bomb, constructed with the odourless
plastic explosive Semtex, was hidden in a cassette player stored in a suitcase. The blast
broke the plane into thousands of pieces that landed in an area covering roughly 850 square
miles (2,200 square km). All 259 passengers and crew members were killed. Falling wreckage
destroyed 21 houses and killed an additional 11 people on the ground.

Source: The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

a) According to the case above, identify two basic parts (with the name of components) in
improvised explosive devices (IED) that were used as a bomb.
(4 marks)

b) By referring to the case above, briefly explain the type of explosion.

(2 marks)

c) " The blast broke the plane into thousands of pieces that landed in an area covering roughly
850 square miles (2,200 square km). All 259 passengers and crew members were killed.
Falling wreckage destroyed 21 houses and killed an additional 11 people on the ground."

i) Identify the type of explosion effect according to the statement above.

(1 mark)
ii) Briefly explain how the type of explosion effect in (i) can occur.
(3 marks)

d) Most explosives used by a terrorist are high explosives. However, some low explosives
are useful for small firearms and mining explosions. List two examples of low explosives.
(2 marks)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL 3 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

QUESTION 2

History of High Profile Bombing Attack

Table 1: Four examples of high-profile bombing attacks (Source: The National

Academics of Sciences Engineering Medicine)

Event (Location) Main Charge Booster Initiator

2001 - Shoe Bomber (AA Flight 63) PETN Semtex TATP
2002 - Bali Nightclub Bombing
KCIOs/S/AI RDX PETN
(Bali, Indonesia)
|2005 - 7/21 Bombing (London, Concentrated Hydrogen Not
TATP
[United Kingdom) Peroxide available
2011 - Oslo Bombing (Oslo,
ANFO Picric Acid DDNP
Norway)

By referring to Table 1, determine the number of low or high explosive train for each event.
(4 marks)

QUESTION 3

Bali Bombing

12 October 2002

Source: Wikipedia

The Mitsubishi L300 van bomb was initially thought to have consisted of C4, a military grade
plastic explosive which is difficult to obtain. However, investigators discovered the bomb was
made from potassium chlorate, aluminium powder, and sulfur. For the Sari club bomb with the
L300 van, the terrorists assembled 12 plastic filing cabinets filled with explosives. The
cabinets, each containing a potassium chlorate, aluminum powder, sulfur mixture with a TNT
booster, was connected by 150 metres (490 ft) of PETN-filled detonating cord. Ninety-four
RDX electric detonators were fitted to the TNT. The total weight of the van bomb was 2,250
pounds (1,020 kg). The large, high-temperature blast damage produced by this mixture was
similar to a thermobaric explosive, although the bombers may not have known this.

According to the case study above, sketch a diagram of the explosive train with a proper label
and function of each explosive.
(4 marks)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL 4 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

PARTB

Answer all questions

QUESTION 1

Title: Analysis of Writing Ink Dyestuffs by TLC and FT-IR and Its Application to
Forensic Science

Author: Kazuhiro TSUTSUMI and Kazuva OHGA

DPI: https://doi.org/10.2116/analsci.14.269

Abstract

Black, blue and red writing pens were classified into various groups using the Rf values and
color tones of dyestuff bands separated by normal-phase thin-layer chromatography (TLC) of
their inks. The classification is effective for the preliminary identification of pens used in crime
scenes. A microsampling technique was proposed for the TLC analysis of minute quantities
of inks on questioned documents. Furthermore, a combination of reflectance- mode
microscope/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the pin-point condensation technique
was proved to be useful for the precise discrimination of trace amounts of analogous water-
soluble dyestuffs on TLC plates.

a) Interpret the findings if the above analysis was done without the FTIR technique.
(3 marks)

b) Discuss TLC analysis for gel pen inks.

(3 marks)

QUESTION 2

Ageing is an important forensic aspect of ink analysis. If an old document has been altered
recently, the newer ink will have a different composition than the old, aged ink and should be
detectable by the appropriate technique.

a) In ink age estimation, chemical changes in ink are crucial to be investigated. Describe the
several chemical processes that happened when the ink dries.
(3 marks)

b) Identify the type of pen which is suitable to be used for signing an official document. Justify
your answer.
(3 marks)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL 5 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

QUESTION 3

Title: Decipherment of Disappeared Ink: A Case Study

Author: Deshpande Hemantini and Mulani Khudbudin

DPI: http://dx.doi.orq/10.17063/bifs7(3)v2018156

The disappeared or invisible inks are fluids used to for secret writing. Invisible inks are
revealed by heat, chemical reaction and UV light. Disappearing inks are acid base indicators
showing different colours at different pH. Writing with this type of ink disappears after about
65 h. This ink could be used for forging the documents such as agreements, cheques, property
documents and other important documents. Many destructive and non-destructive methods
are available for forensic decipherment of these disappeared writing. In present
communication a simple nondestructive method is applied for decipherment of disappeared
signatures on share transfer agreement and other related documents.

a) According to the above case study, identify the suitable type of nondestructive instrument
for deciphering disappeared signatures from invisible ink.
(1 mark)

b) Justify your answer in (a).

(3 marks)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL 6 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

PARTC

Answer all questions

QUESTION 1

Arson confirmed as cause of Seremban market fire

Bernama - November 8, 2017 9:53 PM

SEREMBAN: The Negeri Sembilan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has confirmed arson
as the cause of a fire at the Seremban main market on Sept 9. Its director Norazam Khamis
said petrol was detected in five samples collected from the scene. The petrol is believed to
have been poured in front of the wood shutter of one of the food and drinks shops on the first
floor of the market. "Two JBPM tracker dogs were used in the investigation. We gathered the
five samples for analysis by the chemistry officer at the state

JBPM investigation laboratory. The results of the analysis found the five samples to be petrol.
"The petrol was poured in front of the shutter of the Seng Hing food and drinks shop on the
first floor and set on fire. JBPM also found something, which was used to light the fire, in a
dustbin," he told a media conference here today.

a) Briefly explain why specimens collected in arson cases must be immediately packaged in
an airtight container.
(2 marks)

b) List two examples of airtight containers suitable for case above.

(2 marks)

c) Other than petrol, identify the type of fuel that contributes to the formation of fire (refer to
the article above).
(1 mark)

QUESTION 2

"The petrol is believed to have been poured in front of the shutter of one of the food and drinks
shops on the first floor of the market."

a) According to the statement above, interpret three fire clues found on the wood shutter.
(6 marks)

b) Besides assessing the pattern of the wood shutter, the depth characteristics are also
important in arson investigation. Explain the purpose of depth evaluation with the aid of a
diagram.
(6 marks)
© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL 7 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

QUESTION 3
Evidence packaging is important for preserving and protecting evidence between the time it is
collected and when it can be analyzed in the laboratory. In some cases, it may take several
weeks to have evidence processed by a forensic science laboratory. Therefore, fire
investigators should take particular care in packaging and preserving evidence to maintain the
quality of the sample and prevent the release, deterioration, or contamination of such residue
as flammable/ combustible liquids, insecticides, cleaning liquids, etc.

a) Briefly explain why polyethylene bags are not suitable for specimen packaging.
(2 marks)

b) Identify one alternative for polyethylene bags.

(1 mark)

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL 8 AS/FEB 2023/FRS581

PARTD

Answer all questions

QUESTION 1

One of the most encountered kinds of paint evidence is automotive paint. Automotive paints
are also a good example of how manufacturing styles and variation contribute to the
significance of forensic evidence.

a) In forensic paint automotive, coating of paint is crucial to be examined. List all four coatings
for automotive finishing (answer from the first to the fourth layer).
(4 marks)

b) Based on your answer in (a), evaluate the forensic value of the first coating.
(4 marks)

QUESTION 2

Identify the most common type of paint evidence found on the car's body.
(1 mark)

QUESTION 3

"A red trace was recovered from the rear bumper of the damaged vehicle. A comparative
analysis between the red trace and the reference paint coming from the suspect's vehicle was
carried out."

Explain the proper analysis of a non-destructive screening method that can be carried out for
the above statement.
(5 marks)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

© Hak Cipta Universiti Teknologi MARA CONFIDENTIAL