ONLINE REFRESHER COURSE IN CHEMISTRY

FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY

(2018)

Module 11: ChemApplications:

Applications of Chemistry in Development
of Fingerprints

(Month of Publication: August, 2018)

Developed at

NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE OF CHEMISTRY

MHRD, Govt. of India

at
Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre
A Centre of MHRD, Govt. of India
under
 ONLINE REFRESHER COURSE IN CHEMISTRY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY (2018)
@ SWAYAM.GOV.IN
________________________________________________________________________
Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching
(PMMMNMTT)
Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College
University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Email id: mhrdnrc.chemistry@gmail.com

CREDITS

CORE TEAM Name & Institution

Coordinator, Dr. (Mrs.) Vimal Rarh

NRC of Chemistry Coordinator, National Resource Centre of Chemistry
Project Head & Joint Director, Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre (GAD-TLC)
Senior Asst. Professor, Department of Chemistry
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi
Chairman, Prof. A K Bakhshi
NRC of Chemistry Vice Chancellor, PDM University
Ex-Chair Professor, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Delhi
Chairman, and National Resource Centre of Chemistry of MHRD
Chairman, Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre (GAD-TLC) of MHRD
Director Dr. Jaswinder Singh
Director, Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre (GAD-TLC)
Principal, SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi
Module Contributors Name & Institution

Author Dr. G.S. Sodhi

S.G.T.B. Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Second Author Dr. Jasjeet Kaur
Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences for Women (University of Delhi)
Vasundhara Enclave, New Delhi-110096

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 ONLINE REFRESHER COURSE IN CHEMISTRY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY (2018)
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1. Introduction
It may be asserted that there is no more effective deterrent to crime than the certainty
of detection. Equally true is that there is no surer way to establishing identity than by
fingerprints. The detection of fingerprints at the scene of crime is therefore one of the
most powerful tools available in casework investigations. However, in the present day
scenario, the criminal often endeavors to erase the fingerprints from the scene of
crime. This may be done by either spraying water on the scene or by setting it on fire.
In many cases the suspect may bury his weapon beneath the soil after committing
the crime. When such a weapon is retrieved, soil, mud and clay is found clinging to it
and on washing the fingerprints too get dissolved.
We present a few novel techniques which prove useful for detecting fingerprints on
such despoiled crime scene evidence.

2. Fingerprint Detection

Chemical Detection of Fingerprints

Detection of Fingerprints on Despoiled Crime Evidence

3. Methods of Fingerprint Detection

When a finger touches a surface, it leaves a deposition of sweat called latent

fingerprint. The latent fingerprint is an invisible impression which may be visualized
by a suitable physical or chemical method. Sweat contains 99% water, 0.5% organic
molecules and 0.5% inorganic ions. The invisible mark may be visualized by
transforming any of these colorless constituent of sweat into a colored derivative.
A common method to develop latent fingerprints is the powder method. The powder
gets physically adsorbed on the moisture content of sweat and imparts a color to it.
Alternately, ninhydrin method may be used to visualize finger impression. Ninhydrin
reagent reacts chemically with protein content of sweat and yields a purple colored
complex called Ruhemann purple. Likewise, silver nitrate reagent reacts with chloride
component of sweat to give white colored silver chloride. The latter is unstable to
sunlight or ultraviolet light and decomposes into finely divided silver, imparting black
color to sweat residue. Yet another method is the iodine fuming technique wherein
iodine reagent bonds reversibly to fatty acid constituents of sweat, giving brown
colored fingerprints.

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 ONLINE REFRESHER COURSE IN CHEMISTRY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY (2018)
@ SWAYAM.GOV.IN
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The conventional methods, cited above, fail to give optimum results if the alleged
suspect tries to despoil the crime scene. This calls for novel, innovative techniques
to combat crime.
We have innovated a nanoparticle-size powder composition which detects latent
fingerprints on a very large number of crime scene evidence even if meager amount
of moisture or organic components remain in sweat residue. Thus fingerprints left on
items that were removed from tropical regions after prolonged periods may be
developed by this method. The phase transfer method enables the detection of
fingerprints by fixing those constituents of sweat that are rendered insoluble on
deposition and hence cannot be fixed by conventional methods. The modified small
particle reagent helps us to develop latent fingerprints on evidence that have been
deliberately or accidentally wetted. It also detects prints on articles which have
remained buried under soil for long periods. Iodine, in concert with a sublimable
organic compound, may be used to detect fingerprints on items removed from arson
sites.

4. Summary

 Simple, indigenous, cost-effective methods for detecting latent fingerprints.

 Non-toxic reagents.
 Detection of fingerprints possible even if the evidence in question is wet or has
been removed from arson site or has remained buried beneath soil.

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 ONLINE REFRESHER COURSE IN CHEMISTRY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FACULTY (2018)
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Reference Material
 C. Champod, C. Lennard, P. Margot and M. Stoilovic (2004). Fingerprints and other
Ridge Skin Impressions, CRC Press, Boca Raton: 105-179.
 W.J. Tilstone, M.L. Hastrup and C. Hald (2013). Fisher’s Techniques of Crime Scene
Investigation, CRC Press, Boca Raton: 127-149.
 D. Wilkinson (2013) in. Lee and Gaensslen’s Advances in Fingerprint Technology,
3rd Edn., R.S. Ramotowski (Ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton: 381-417.
 G.S. Sodhi and J. Kaur (2001). Powder method for detecting latent fingerprints: A
review, Forensic Science International ; 120: 172-176.
 G.S. Sodhi and J. Kaur (2001). Ninhydrin method for detecting latent fingerprints: A
review, Research and Practice in Forensic Medicine; 44: 299-310.

Web-Links
 https://www.fingerprints.com/
 http://onin.com/fp/fphistory.html
 www.britannica.com/topic/fingerprint
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint
 https://science.howstuffworks.com/fingerprinting1.htm

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