Introduction : the chemistry of crime -- The case of the innovative introduction -- Public safety, and personal, too -- Crime lab and crime solutions -- pt. I. Bare-bones chemistry -- Demonstration 1. A significant difference -- 1. Confidence in chemistry and confidence in clues : the significance of digits -- The case of the presumptive perp -- Demonstration 2. Cashing it in -- 2. Improbable profiling : finding massive clues -- The case of the significant other -- Demonstration 3. The color of crime -- 3. My dear Watson : elements and the evidence they contain -- The case of the mystifying metal -- Demonstration 4. Chromatography and crime -- 4. Isolating the witness : screening tests tell -- The case of the dueling drugs -- Demonstration 5. A case of friction -- 5. Fatal attractions : intermolecular forces make the charges stick -- The case of the sticky situation -- Demonstration 6. The current case -- 6. Volatile situation : mass, gas, and chemical fingerprints -- The case of the validating vacuum -- Demonstration 7. Place of confinement -- 7. Too much of a good thing : establishing concentration levels -- A case of strong medicine -- Demonstration 8. Solid evidence -- 8. Crystal-clear crime : microcrystalline identification -- The case of the sweet surrender --
pt. II. Felonious interactions -- Demonstration 9. Physical evidence -- 9. A change for the worse : when it gets physical -- The case of the physical flaw -- Demonstration 10. Precipitating events -- 10. Chemistry under the influence : compounding the crime -- A case of nerves -- Demonstration 11. Seeing red, wearing blue -- 11. Acrimonious adversity : acid-base chemistry -- The case of the cracked case -- Demonstration 12. Reduced to essentials -- 12. Burning passion : runaway redox reactions -- The case of the reducing rat -- Demonstration 13. Incriminating chemistry -- 13. The smoking gun : explosive chemical reactions -- The case of the material witness -- Demonstration 14. Three strikes and a foul -- 14. In hot water : thermochemistry -- A very cold case -- Demonstration 15. Sequence of events -- 15. Doing time : the importance of chemical reaction rates -- A matter of timing -- Demonstration 16. Extracting the truth -- 16. The clue is in the GUE : physical equilibrium -- The case of the perfect grime -- Demonstration 17. Evidence indicating otherwise -- 17. Equal, just as for all : chemical equilibrium -- The case of a well-handled crime --
pt. III. Interrogation lights -- Demonstration 18. Behind prism bars -- 18. Enough rope : infrared spectroscopy for fiber and more -- A case of canine karma -- Demonstration 19. Examining the evidence -- 19. Under the microscope : microscopy -- The case of courting trouble -- Demonstration 20. Point of law -- 20. Sexy science : laser ablation -- The case of the subtle smear -- Demonstration 21. Illuminating details -- 21. The glaring truth : chemiluminescence and fluorescence -- The case of the hirsute homeless --
Demonstration 22. Pointing the finger
22. The prince of forensics : fingerprint technology
The case of the elusive acetone
Demonstration 23. A bloody shame
23. Sticky cases : bodily fluid identification
The case of the contraband confection
Demonstration 24. Sorting out the facts
24. Unlocking the cell : death, decay, and DNA
The case of the flowery felon
Demonstration 25. The big jolt
25. Sniffing out the truth : the future of forensic chemistry
The case of the clean getaway
Appendix. The periodic table of the elements
