Forensic Chemistry

Objectives

The student should be able to acquire competences in the research area of forensic chemistry and the comprehension of the way of analyzing the chemical evidence of drugs, combustion, DNA and ID.

General characterization

Code

7916

Credits

6.0

Responsible teacher

Ana Maria Ferreira da Costa Lourenço

Hours

Weekly - 3

Total - 44

Teaching language

Português

Prerequisites

There are no requirements. It is a UC of FCT offer in which, consequently, students from all FCT degrees are accepted.

Bibliography

Available soon

Teaching method

The course has theoretical and practical components. Theoretical classes are taught using power-point presentations. The active participation of students is encouraged in the sequence of presentation of themes.

In each practical class is made the exposition of the specific concepts of each work to be performed in direct writing on the blackboard, followed by the realization of the experimental work by students in the laboratory.

Evaluation method

Theoretical component (70%) - two tests (average  9.5) or exam note with  9.5 values.

Practical component (30%) - mandatory attendance of practical classes held one report and one note (overall score  9.5). It consists in the frequency.

Performance in the Lab -10%; Report - 10%, Note - 10%. 

The exam can be used as grade improvement of the average of the two tests, and will average to note the frequency for the final classification.

The attendance to each of the two proposed seminars gives 0,5 points increment in the final mark before rounding.


Subject matter

 I - Background

Brief historical evolution of forensic areas.
II - Essential Elements

Legal aspects.

Sampling, Quality of analytical results.
Preparation of samples, analyses and instrumentation.

III - Chemical analysis of physical evidence
A - Drug analysis.

Drugs and Pharmacology.
Forensic analysis of drugs.
Drugs with basic character.
B - The chemistry of combustion - arson, explosion, firing.

C - ID detection.

D - DNA .

IV - Doping.


Programs

Programs where the course is taught: