Forensic Chemistry: Nature of The Job

Forensic Chemistry

There is no job more important in solving crimes than the job of the forensic investigator. This person, who specializes in forensic chemistry, is tasked to analyze, evaluate and determine the scene of the crime. From analyzing the blood spatter to identifying the several substances on a victim’s clothing, the job of a forensic chemist is tedious, meticulous and taxing.  The role of a forensic chemist is important and his findings more so as a case relies on the evidence that the forensic team produces and/ or verifies.

People have only been recently introduced to the true nature of the job with such shows such as CSI: crime Scene Investigation, Bones and such.  But authorities who use forensic chemistry to solve crimes have been around since the time of Socrates.

History of Forensic Chemistry

The history of forensic chemistry finds its beginnings in 82 BCE when Democritus studied poisons and shared his finding with Hippocrates. During the time of the Romans, understanding poisons were vital as poisons were the weapon of choice for murder and execution. It wasn’t only in 1752 when actual forensic science was applied. During the Blandy trial of 1752, the court requested for a test in arsenic poisoning. This was followed by the development of the Marsh test, which was the first reliable test that proved that arsenic was present in the body.

Forensic chemistry is a vast and interesting field of chemistry which does not only entail working in the confines of a laboratory. The expertise of a forensic chemist is valuable as it can determine whether a man is guilty or not guilty. A forensic chemist must have the analytical mind and the disciplined focus to ensure that no information is overlooked and that evidence is evaluated thoroughly. A case cannot be built and justice cannot be served with faulty investigations.