Why Cosmetic And Food Chemists Intertwine With Forensic Scientists

Avery Casaclang
Ms. Prasad
Chemistry 11
15 June 2023
Why Cosmetic and Food Chemists Intertwine with Forensic Scientists
A similarity between forensic, cosmetic, and food scientists is that they all work in the field of chemistry in some form. All three careers require a solid chemical background, often including laboratory work and advanced analytical techniques. These experts frequently work with other scientists, engineers, and researchers to solve particular/specific problems and guarantee the security and effectiveness of the materials they use. While they are all different careers specializing in a specific field, cosmetic and food chemists relate to one another as they help support a career that can lead to a career as a forensic scientist.

A Forensic Scientist works in different and possibly multiple locations. They must work outside in all types of weather observing evidence, spend many hours in laboratories, or combine both. When working in offices or laboratories, forensic scientists are given pieces of physical evidence found at a crime scene, including hair samples, paint chips, glass fragments, or bloodstains. Using the evidence from crime scenes, they conduct tests to identify unknown materials and match samples to known substances. When they are not in the lab conducting these tests, forensic scientists are out at the crime scene to help examine and interpret blood splatter patterns, make observations of crimes based on autopsies, or take photos of victims/crime scenes. Not only do they have to analyze the evidence they also have to preserve and ensure it isn't

The blood patterns can match the suspects' blood types to ascertain which blood came from each person at the crime scene, as mixing up the culprit's blood with the victim's could lead to an unsolvable case. Forensic scientists use various chemicals to help them with blood evidence. Fluorescein, a chemical used as a fluorescent tracer, is utilized to detect minute amounts of blood. Even after multiple cleanings of the murder scene, latent blood traces can still be found with fluorescein. Additionally, fluorescein can be used to find and highlight shoe prints leaving a bloody crime scene, enabling detectives to follow the suspect's trail. Fluorescein can be used to find latent blood stains even after multiple washings on clothing. When used to observe fingerprints, the four most frequent chemical reagents used are, Iodine, Silver Nitrate, Cyanoacrylate, and Ninhydrin are involved. Iodine is helpful because it reacts with the oils and fats in the fingerprint, which produces a brownish coloration that makes the fingerprints visible. Latent fingerprints are developed using silver nitrate on non-porous surfaces like glass, metal, and plastic. Cyanoacrylate, the super glue method, assists in detecting latent fingermarks on rubber bands, glass, and plastics. It produces vapors that react with some of the elements of the latent fingermark residues, which