The Strange Case of Mole Airlines Flight 1023

Instructions for submission

(50% of grade) - Complete and submit as a table group (4 people)
- Identify the 8 passengers and solve the murder mystery
- Electronically submit ONE activity packet per table group via Infinite Campus.
(50% of grade) - Complete and submit as an individual
- Each group member must submit their work and calculations for TWO passengers
(submit as paper copies). There are 8 passengers in total, so each group member is
responsible for 2 passengers.
- For full credit, I need to see your answers and your work that shows HOW you arrived
at your answers.

The story

At 6:02:21 a.m. mole airlines flight 1023 radioed that they were making an emergency
landing after a commotion in the cabin. However, shortly after radioing in the situation,
the plane crashed. You and your team of medical examiners are called to the scene of
a plane crash. You find evidence of a pre-crash explosion. A section of the plane has
been blown apart by an explosion. It appears as if the explosion happened before the
crash.

Residue from the explosion site shows the following elemental analysis: 16.22%
carbon, 2.72% hydrogen, 37.84% nitrogen, and 43.22% oxygen

Eight victims are found at the scene, but none are identifiable by witnesses, dental
records, or DNA evidence. You find evidence suggesting that the commotion radioed
in before the crash was a passenger being murdered. The flight manifest shows the
names and some information about the victims. You must use the available tools and
information to identify each victim. You must also solve the murder mystery.
Step 1: Find the empirical formula of the chemical used at the
explosion site

Compound number and info Percent Composition Empirical formula

(“Multiply till whole”)

C H N O CH2N2O2

RDX (Research
% Composition 16.22% 2.72% 37.84% 43.22% Dept. Explosive)

“% to mass” (assume 100g 16.22g 2.72g 37.84g 43.22g

total)

“Mass to moles” (keep 4 s.f.) 1.351mol 2.693mol 2.701mol 2.701mol

“Divide by small” 1mol 1.99mol 1.99mol 1.99mol

Table 1. Flight Manifest Information

Name Information about the person

Sharon Turner Pharmacist with chronic back pain

Sky Chesterson science teacher addicted to Diet Coke

Brian Skete Sweet tooth and ADHD

Karla Baker Sleep deprived with a heart condition

Charles Dunlap Baker who loves bread

Jason Uitz Loves chocolate. Suffers from clinical

depression

Charisa Morton Suspected drug dealer and addict

Tommy Zumpela Civil engineer specializing in demolition

Table 2. Crime scene information

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger

enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why

C H N O “Multiply till Charis Morton

whole” because she
is a suspected
Pockets 80.48% 10.13% 9.386% 0.000% C10H15N drug dealer
and addict.
-Methamphetamine There was
“% ---> mass” 80.48g 10.13g 9.386g 0g Methampheta
1 -Illegal stimulant -mine found in
drug her pockets
“Mass → moles” 6.701 10.03 0.6700 0 mols and Cocaine
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mol found in her
blood.
“Divide by small” 10 mols 15 mols 1 mol 0 mols

Blood 67.31% 6.978% 4.617% 21.10% C17H21NO4

-Cocaine
“% ---> mass” 67.31g 6.978g 4.617g 21.10g
- Narcotic,
“Mass → moles” 5.604 6.909 0.3296 1.319 illegal
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mol mols

“Divide by small” 17 mols 21 mols 1 mol 4 mols

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger

enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why

C H N O “Multiply till Sharon

whole” Turner
because she
In Pockets 75.69% 8.795% 0.000% 15.51% C13H18O2 has chronic
back pains
-Ibuprofen and Ibuprofen
“% ---> mass” 75.69g 8.795g 0g 15.52g -Over the
was found in
2 her pocket
counter muscle which is a
“Mass → moles” 6.302 8.708 0 mols 0.9694 painkiller and
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mols relaxer and Hydrocodone
 “Divide by small” 6.5 9 mols 0 mols 1 mol was found in
mols painkiller her blood
which is also
In Blood 72.22% 7.071% 4.679% 16.03% C18H21NO3 a painkiller.
-Hydrocodone
“% ---> mass” 72.22g 7.071g 4.679g 16.03g
- Painkiller,
prescription
“Mass → moles” 6.013 7.001 0.3340 1.002
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mols mols controlled

“Divide by small” 18 mols 21 mols 1 mol 3 mols

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger

enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why

C H N O “Multiply till Passenger

whole” Identity -
Karla Baker
In Blood 15.87% 2.219% 18.50% 63.41% C3H5N3O9
She is sleep
-Nitroglycerin deprived with
“% ---> mass” 15.87g 2.219g 18.50g 63.41g a heart
3 -Heart Medication condition

“Mass → moles” 1.321 2.197 1.320 3.963

(keep 4 s.f.)

“Divide by small” 1 1.664 1 3.002

In Blood 49.48% 5.190% 28.85% 16.48% C4H5N2O

-Caffeine
“% ---> mass” 49.48g 5.190g 28.85 16.48g
-Stimulant found
in coffee
“Mass → moles” 4.120 5.139 2.059 1.030
(keep 4 s.f.)

“Divide by small” 4 4.989 1.999 1

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger

enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
 C H N O “Multiply till Passenger
whole” Identity -
Jason Uitz
In Blood 76.95% 7.217% 15.84% 0.000% C17H18N3
-Loves
-Mirtazapine chocolate.
“% ---> mass” 76.95g 7.217g 15.84g 0.000g Suffered from
4 -Prescription clinical
antidepressant depression.
“Mass → moles” 6.407 7.146 1.131 0 Mol O
(keep 4 s.f.) Mol C Mol H Mol N

“Divide by small” 5.664 6.318 1 Mol N 0 Mol O

Mol C Mol H

In Stomach 46.67% 4.476% 31.10% 17.76% C7H8N4O2

-Theobromine
“% ---> mass” 46.67g 4.476g 31.10g 17.76g
-A heart stimulant
found naturally in
“Mass → moles” 3.886 4.432 2.220 1.110 chocolate
(keep 4 s.f.) Mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O

“Divide by small” 3.501 4 Mol H 2 Mol N 1 Mol O

Mol C

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical Passenger

enge number and info formula and Identity and
r compound explanation
name why

C H N O “Multiply till Brian Skete

whole” because there
is ADHD
In Blood 79.95% 9.691% 10.36% 0.000% C9 H13N medication is
in the blood,
Amphetamine sugar is in the
“% ---> mass” 79.95g 9.691g 10.36g 0.000g stomach, and
5 -ADHD he has ADHD
medication and a sweet
“Mass → moles” 6.657 9.59 0.7395 0.000 tooth.
(keep 4 s.f.) mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O

“Divide by small” 9.00 12.97 1 Mol N 0.000

molC Mol H Mol O

In Stomach 42.11% 6.478% 0.000% 51.42% CH2O

 “% ---> mass” 42.11g 6.478g 0.000g 51.42g
C12H22O11

“Mass → moles” 3.506 6.414 0.000 3.214 Sucrose

(keep 4 s.f.) mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O
-Table Sugar
“Divide by small” 1mol 2mol 0mol 1mol

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical Passenger

enge number and info formula and Identity and
r compound explanation
name why

C H N O “Multiply till This

whole” passenger is
Tommy
In Pockets 16.22% 2.723% 37.84% 43.22% CH2N2O2 Zumpela
because there
RDX (Research was
“% ---> mass” 16.22g 2.723g 37.84g 43.22g Dept. Explosive) explosives in
6 his pocket
Major ingredient and he is a
“Mass → moles” 1.351 2.696 2.701 2.701 in C-4 demolition
mol C mol H mol explosives specialist,
which means
“Divide by small” 1 mol C 1.99 1.99 1.99 mol that he
mol H mol N O specialises in
blowing up
In Pockets 69.12% 7.859% 5.200% 17.82% C31H42N2O6 and breaking
down
buildings.
“% ---> mass” 69.12g 7.859g 5.200g 17.82g
Batrachotoxin

Poison used on
“Mass → moles” 5.755 7.781 0.3714 1.114
darts
mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O

“Divide by small” 15.50 20.95 1 mol N 2.99

Mol C Mol H Mol O

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger

enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why

C H N O “Multiply till This

whole” passenger is
Charles
In Stomach 41.09% 6.897% 19.17% 32.84% C5H10N2O3 Dunlap, he’s a
Baker who
 “% ---> mass” 41.09g 6.897g 19.17g 32.84g Glutamine loves bread.
There was
7 A protein found in Gluten found
“Mass → moles” 3.421m 6.829m 1.368m 2.053m wheat or Gluten in his stomach
(keep 4 s.f.) ol ol ol ol which relates
to his love for
“Divide by small” 2.501m 4.99mol 1mol 1.501m bread and
ol ol vanilla in his
pocket which
In Pockets 63.15% 5.3 % 0% 31.55% C8H8O3 connects with
him being a
Vanilla baker.
“% ---> mass” 63.15g 5.3g 0g 31.55g
Flavoring

“Mass → moles” 5.258m 5.248m 0mol 1.972m

(keep 4 s.f.) ol ol ol

“Divide by small” 2.666m 2.661m 0mol 1mol

ol ol

Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger

enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why

C H N O “Multiply till This

whole” passenger is
science
In Blood 69.12% 7.859% 5.2% 17.82% C31H42N2O6 teacher, Sky
Chesterson.
Batrachotoxin We found he’s
“% ---> mass” 69.12g 7.859g 5.2g 17.82g addicted to
8 Poison used on Diet Coke
darts from the high
“Mass → moles” 5.755m 7.781m 0.3712 1.114m levels of
ol ol mol ol Aspartame
found in his
“Divide by small” 15.50m 20.96m 1mol 3.001m blood and
ol ol ol was the
murder victim
In Blood 57.14% 6.165% 9.519% 27.18% C14H18N2O5 on the plane
due to the
Aspartame Batrachotoxin
“% ---> mass” 57.14g 6.165g 9.519g 27.18g also found in
Artificial his
sweetener found bloodstream.
“Mass → moles” 4.758m 6.104m 0.6794 1.699m in diet sodas.
ol ol mol ol

“Divide by small” 7.003m 8.984m 1mol 2.501m

ol ol ol
Table 3. Possible Compounds (one will be used twice)

Identity Empirical Formula Molecular Formula Notes/uses

Amphetamine C9H13N same Prescription drug for

treatment of ADHD

Aspartame C14H18N2O5 same Artificial sweetener

found in diet sodas

Batrachotoxin C31H42N2O6 same Poison used on darts.

Caffeine C4H5N2O C8H10N4O2 Stimulant found in

coffee
and many sodas

Cocaine C17H21NO4 same Narcotic, illegal

Glutamine C5H10N2O3 same A protein found in

wheat gluten

Hydrocodone C18H21NO3 same Painkiller,

prescription-
controlled

Ibuprofen C13H18O2 same Over-the-counter

muscle
relaxer and painkiller

Methamphetamine C10H15N same Illegal stimulant drug

Mirtazapine C17H19N3 same Prescription

antidepressant

Nitroglycerine C3H5N3O9 same Explosive and also a

heart medication

RDX (Research CH2N2O2 C3H6N6O6

Dept. Explosive)

Sucrose C12H22O11 same Table sugar

Theobromine C7H8N4O2 same A heart stimulant

found
naturally in chocolate
Vanilla C8H8O3 same flavoring

Conclusion: Solve the murder mystery.

1. Who was the murderer? Who was the murder victim? What was used to murder the
victim? Explain your answers
Tommy Zumpela is the murderer because there were poisoned darts found in his pockets which was
what he used to kill someone before the crash.Sky Chesterson was the murder victim on the plane due to
the Batrachotoxin also found in his bloodstream, the same substance that was found in Tommy
Zumpela’s pockets.

2. According to the evidence, who caused the pre-crash explosion? How do you know?

Tommy Zumpela also caused the explosion. He had the same exact explosives in his pockets that was
used to blow up the plane, and it makes sense because he is used to using explosives being a civil
engineer specializing in demolition.

3. Explain how you and your partners contributed to this project. Which partners
completed which parts?

WL - Passenger 3 & 4
LB - Passenger 5 & 6
AL- Passengers 7&8
JW- Passenger 1&2