Illustrated Guide to Home Forensic Science Experiments

Chapter 36. Lab IX-2 Presumptive Color Tests for Explosives Residues

Equipment and Materials

You’ll need the following items to complete this lab session. (The standard kit for this book, available from http://www.thehomescientist.com, includes the items listed in the first group.)

Materials from Kit

• Goggles

• Diphenylamine reagent

• Lead nitrate, 0.1% (nitrate known)

• Methylene blue reagent, part A

• Methylene blue reagent, part B

• Modified Griess reagent, part A

• Modified Griess reagent, part B

• Pipettes

• Sodium nitrite, 1% w/v (nitrite known)

• Spot plate, 12-well

• Specimen: chlorate known

• Specimen: perchlorate known

Materials you Provide

• Gloves

• Acetone

• Cotton swabs

• Rocks, broken tile or flowerpot, etc. (see text)

• Vinegar, distilled white

• Water, distilled or deionized

Warning ...