EXPLOSIVES &
EXPLOSIONS
Determining whether or not a person has
fired a gun with bare hands within
a pertinent period of time
Means of determining the probable gunshot
range
The time of the firing of the gun
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE
INVESTIGATION OF CRIMES (USE OF
FIREARMS)
Black Powder Smokeless Powder
oldest known explosive most widely used propellant
consists of a mixture of 15% consists of cellulose nitrate
charcoal, 10% sulfur, 75%
potassium or sodium
or glyceryl nitrate
nitrate combined with cellulose
nitrate and some stabilizers
(oxalates, nitrobenzene,
graphite, vaseline
KINDS OF GUNPOWDER
Residue of the barrel of the gun
In or around the wound
On the clothing of the person fired upon at close
range
On the exposed surface of the hand of the person
firing the gun
POSSIBLE LOCATIONS OF NITRATES
WHEN BLACKPOWDER AND SMOKELESS
POWDER EXPLODE
Length of the barrel of the
gun – a weapon with 2
Type and calibre of the
inches barrel will deposit
ammunition – different types
residues over a larger area
of ammunition fired in the
than a weapon having 5
same weapon and from the
inches barrel even though
same distance may give
they are fired at the same
different patterns
distance and with the same
type of ammunition
FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRESENCE
AND AMOUNT OF GUNPOWDER
Humidity – affects the speed
with which powder burns;
powder having lesser
Distance of the muzzle of
amount of moisture will burn
the gun from the target
more rapidly and completely
within a given time yielding
greater amount of residue
FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRESENCE
AND AMOUNT OF GUNPOWDER
Direction of firing – firing
vertically, slightly greater
Wind velocity and direction – than firing horizontally from
in high winds the residue will the same distance; when
be blown in the directions of gun is fired downward or
the wind yielding a scattered vertically all of the residue
pattern will fall on the target, but
when fired horizontally some
of the residues are likely to
fall short of the target
FACTORS AFFECTING THE PRESENCE
AND AMOUNT OF GUNPOWDER
I. DETERMINATION OF
WHETHER OR NOT A
PERSON FIRED A GUN
WITH HIS BARE HANDS
Burned residues are partially burned particles
that may escape around the breech of the gun
and implanted on the exposed surface of the
hand firing the gun and the presence of this
particles serves as basis for the DIPHENYLAMINE-
PARAFFIN test (DPA-Paraffin Test)
Diphenylamine test – a test to determine whether a person
fired a gun or not with bare hands
PROCEDURE:
a) Paraffin test – the taking of the cast to extract the nitrates
embedded or implanted in the skin
b) Diphenylamine test – the chemical aspect of the test;
determines the presence and distribution of nitrates
DIPHENYLAMINE-PARAFFIN TEST (DPA-PARAFFIN
TEST) or DERMAL NITRATE TEST OR LUNGE
REAGENT: Diphenylamine reagent ( 0.5 grams
diphenylamine crystals dissolved in 100 ml of
sulphuric acid and 20 ml of water)
VISIBLE RESULT: Deep blue specks that develop when
nitrates come in contact with diphenylamine
reagent
DIPHENYLAMINE-PARAFFIN TEST (DPA-PARAFFIN
TEST) or DERMAL NITRATE TEST OR LUNGE
LIMITATIONS:
a) The test is not specific for nitrates since the role of
nitrate is simply oxidizing agent; the test
cannot determine the source of nitrate
b) There are other substances which contain nitrate
oxidizing agents that are not in the ordinary
course of life like fertilizers, explosives,
tobacco, firecrackers, urine, cosmetics and
detergents
DIPHENYLAMINE-PARAFFIN TEST (DPA-PARAFFIN
TEST) or DERMAL NITRATE TEST OR LUNGE
LIMITATIONS:
c) In general persons do not have nitrates or other
oxidants on their hands as a matter of common
occurrence
d) Hands contaminated with nitrates from other
sources other than gunpowder or any oxidant one
will expect to find either a smear blue color or
conglomeration of blue specks located at the
different places of the hand both dolsar and palmar
DIPHENYLAMINE-PARAFFIN TEST (DPA-PARAFFIN
TEST) or DERMAL NITRATE TEST OR LUNGE
a) It is possible that the gunpowder particles may
have been blown on the hand directly from the barrel
of the gun being fired by another person
b) An attempt to shield the body by raising the hand
would in some instances result in the implanting of
powder particles on the hand of a person close to
one firing a gun
POSSIBILITIES THAT A PERSON MAY BE FOUND
POSITIVE FOR NITRATES EVEN IF HE DID NOT
ACTUALLY FIRE A GUN
a) Use of automatic pistol
b) Direction of the wind
c) Wind velocity
d) Excessive precipitation
e) Use of gloves
f) Knowledge of chemicals that will remove the
nitrates
POSSIBILITIES THAT A PERSON MAY BE FOUND
NEGATIVE FOR NITRATES EVEN IF HE
ACTUALLY FIRED A GUN
II. DETERMINATION OF THE
PROBABLE GUNSHOT RANGE OR
THE DISTANCE THE FIREARM WAS
HELD FROM THE BODY OF THE
VICTIM AT THE TIME OF
DISCHARGED
Clothing of the victim with bullet
perforation should be submitted for
possible gunshot range
A large area as possible
surrounding the gunshot Do not wad the specimen or
hole should be made pack it loosely for shipment;
available for the test; if the secure the area to be tested
condition and appearance of between two layers of heavy
the wound point to a contact cardboard fastened together
shot at all of the clothing in tightly prevent the specimen
the path of the bullet should from becoming jostled about
be collected and submitted in transit
for examination
HOW TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND
PACK CLOTHING
Clothing heavily smeared
with blood should be dried
thoroughly before packing; if
Each specimen should
wet, they may become
be wrapped separately. mildewed or stick together
in such a way that they will
be unsuitable for the test.
HOW TO COLLECT, PRESERVE AND
PACK CLOTHING
SINGEING – slight burning
SMUDGING – blackening of
The clothing is examined
microscopically for area around the bullet hole
TATTOOING – individual
possible powder residue,
smudging and powder specks of nitrates around
the bullet hole visible to the
tatooing
naked eye; it is a black
coarsely peppered pattern
HOW TO DETERMINE THE
PROBABLE GUNSHOT RANGE
Those in which the Those in which the
muzzle of the gun was
muzzle of the gun was
held directly in contact
held 2 inches to 36
with the body or
inches away
practically so
THREE ZONES OF DISTANCES FROM
WHICH A FIREARM WAS DISCHARGED
Those in which the
muzzle of the gun was
held beyond 36 inches
THREE ZONES OF DISTANCES FROM
WHICH A FIREARM WAS DISCHARGED
Gaping hole where fabric is badly torn;
Smudging;
Singeing of the fibers at the entrance;
and Tattooing
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OBSERVED: HELD
DIRECTLY IN CONTACT
Smoke and soot from the burned powder will
be deposited around the hole of entrance
producing a dirty grimy appearance
more pronounced when the ammunition used
contains blackpowder
smudging around the perforation will be
found to diminish in size
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OBSERVED: HELD
FROM 8 INCHES TO 36 INCHES (MAXIMUM)
Smoke and soot from the burned powder will be
deposited around the hole of entrance producing a dirty
grimy appearance
more pronounced when the ammunition used contains
blackpowder
smudging around the perforation will be found to
diminish in size as the muzzle of the gun is held a
distance of 8 inches and all the blackening around the
hole completely disappear and few individual specks of
tattooing will be visible with the naked eye
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OBSERVED: HELD
FROM 8 INCHES TO 36 INCHES (MAXIMUM)
The size of the smudge depends upon the calibre of
the gun, type of powder used, length of the barrel,
distance of the muzzle of the gun was held from the
body
the size of the area of tattooing will also depend on
the calibre, powder charge and distance of firing
Gunshot hole will show the granule mark or powder
tattooing is not distributed evenly around the hole
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OBSERVED: HELD
FROM 8 INCHES TO 36 INCHES (MAXIMUM)
Greater bulk of tattooing is deposited on one side of the
hole; caused by when bullet leaves the muzzle of the gun
first, followed by expanding gases and the burning powder
the kick of the gun causes the smudge and powder
tattooing to be deposited more on one side of the hole than
on the other, and the side of the greatest deposits indicates
the side on which the sights of the gun was mounted
This observation is helpful in determining whether the
wound was due to suicide or murder
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OBSERVED: HELD
FROM 8 INCHES TO 36 INCHES (MAXIMUM)
Tattooing is visible
the partially burned and unburned powder
particles will be driven into the surface
around the gunshot hole producing a black
coarsely peppered pattern called tattooing
CHARACTERISTIC PATTERNS OBSERVED: HELD
FROM 8 INCHES TO 36 INCHES
Evidence of powder tattooing is seldom
present
HELD BEYOND 36 INCHES
A method patterned after
the diphenylamine-paraffin
test Walker’s Test – this test
Procedure: Coat a piece of is used if the powder
clean gauze with a sufficient particles are deeply
amount of paraffin to produce embedded; it is based
a layer of about 1/8 inch. Press on the conversation of
this layer of paraffin while still nitrates to a dye
warm against the area to be
examined
CHEMICAL TEST FOR GUNPOWDER
RESIDUE
1) Immerse the photographic paper in a new hypo
solution for 15 minutes so that all the silver
salts are dissolved
2) The paper is washed in running water for one hour
3) The desensitized paper is immerse in a 5 to 10%
aqueous solution of C-acid (2-napthylamine-4,
8- disculfonic acid) for ten minutes and then dry
4) Lay a clean towel on the table and the prepared C-
paper is laid face up on this
PROCEDURE OF WALKER’S TEST
The fabric to be examined is then laid face-down on
the photographic paper
Place a thin dry towel of cotton cloth moistened with
20 to 25% acetic acid
Place another layer of dry towel
Press the laminated arrangement with warm electric
iron for ten minutes
POSITIVE RESULT: a number of orange-red spots are imprinted
on the photographic paper
PROCEDURE OF WALKER’S TEST
RIFLE - a weapon on high velocity projectile: gunshot
range is difficult to estimate due o high velocity of the
projectile and the wide variation produced on the
wound of entrance; the tissue through which the
bullet passed are usually bruised in varying degree;
as a general rule the size of the wound closely
approximates the size of the bullet
GUNSHOT RANGE OF WEAPONS
OTHER THAN PISTOL AND REVOLVER
SHOTGUN or SPORTING GUN - the projectile is a
collection of small shot consisting of lead pellets that
vary in size with types of cartridge
a) The pellets disperse soon after their exit from the barrel and
the dispersion increases with the range
b) The shot discharged from the average cylinder sporting gun
will cluster together and not separate to any appreciably
extent until the cluster has travelled approximately 3 to 4 feet
from the muzzle of the weapon
GUNSHOT RANGE OF WEAPONS
OTHER THAN PISTOL AND REVOLVER
c) If a shot is fired closed to the body up to a few inches the shot
enters as a mass and the liberated gas and flame
lacerate the tissue around the hole and show evidence of
burning, carbon deposit and powder tattooing
d) When fired from 3 feet from the body a more or less irregular
circular wound about 1 ½ inches to 2 inches in diameter
will be produced; there will be scorching, carbon deposit and
powder tattooing
GUNSHOT RANGE OF WEAPONS
OTHER THAN PISTOL AND REVOLVER
e) At a range over a yard and up to about 3 yards evidence of
burning disappears and probably only faint tattooing will be
found
f) Beyond a yard the entering shot produces an irregular wound
and as a result of commencing dispersion of the shots
individual pellet holes may be detected
GUNSHOT RANGE OF WEAPONS
OTHER THAN PISTOL AND REVOLVER
if the gun is examined immediately after the
shooting, chemistry rely more on the odor of the
barrel
a characteristic smell of hydrogen sulphide
decreases in intensity with lapse time; the gun is
examined later for the presence of nitrates,
nitrites, rust soot and metallic fragment are
determined
III. DETERMINATION OF THE
PROBABLE TIME THE GUN HAS BEEN
FIRED
PROCEDURE: The barrel is swabbed with cotton with
the aid of a barbecue stick and the presence of the
following is determined microscopically and
chemically
1) Soot – a black substance that is formed by
combustion, rises in fine particles and adheres to
the side of the barrel conveying the smoke
2) Metallic fragment
III. DETERMINATION OF THE
PROBABLE TIME THE GUN HAS BEEN
FIRED
PROCEDURE: The barrel is swabbed with cotton with the aid
of a barbecue stick and the presence of the following is
determined microscopically and chemically
3) Rust – formation of rust inside the barrel after the gun
has been fired is a good indication for the determination
of the approximate time the gun has been fired
- if a gun has not been fired at all, no rust can be
detected inside the barrel of the gun
- if a gun has been fired, iron salts are formed and are
found inside the barrel; this iron salts are soon oxidized resulting in
the formation of rust
III. DETERMINATION OF THE
PROBABLE TIME THE GUN HAS BEEN
FIRED
PROCEDURE: The barrel is swabbed with cotton with
the aid of a barbecue stick and the presence of the
following is determined microscopically and chemically
4) Nitrites – presence of nitrites (NO) is determined by the
addition of diphenylamine reagent; if the color becomes
blue, nitrates are present and we may say that the firearm could
have been fired recently
5) Nitrates – presence of nitrates (NO) is determined by the
addition of diphenylamine reagent; if the color become
yellow green, nitrates are present and we may say that the
forearm could have been fired but not recently
III. DETERMINATION OF THE
PROBABLE TIME THE GUN HAS BEEN
FIRED
are chemical substances that are susceptible to
sudden decomposition or combustion, in the
process of creating heat, pressure, shockwaves,
fragmentation, that brings damage, death, and
mutilation along its path
EXPLOSIVES
are composed of CNOH, combustion of these
chemicals produce heat and gas
the gas produced would expand to a
hundred times more than its original volume
OTHERS IDEAS OF EXPLOSIVES
Primary Explosives
used as detonators
sensitive to the heat
of fuses
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
Low Explosives
contain gunpowder
forms a high pressure gas that
launches objects extremely fast
also known as propellants
mostly seen in fireworks
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
Blasting Agents
used in mining and
excavation operations
also known as industrial
explosives
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
High Explosives
has great power
used for weapons in the
military such as
missiles and bombs
CLASSIFICATION OF EXPLOSIVES
fordemolition
of old structures
USES OF EXPLOSIVES
excavate land and
clear pathways for
road building
USES OF EXPLOSIVES
for mining
USES OF EXPLOSIVES
for quarrying
USES OF EXPLOSIVES
for
defense
( military )
USES OF EXPLOSIVES
for firework display
USES OF EXPLOSIVES
poor mishandling can result to loss of lives and
causes injury
used by terrorists and criminals for malevolent
occasions
DISADVANTAGE OF EXPLOSIVES
is a sudden release of energy
accompanied by radical changes in
pressure, loud noise and a flash of light
EXPLOSIONS
Mechanical Explosion Atomic Explosion
are caused by internal pressure results
from atomic
bursting out with gases
expanding beyond the capacity transformations
of its container
also known as pressure
explosion
CATEGORIES OF EXPLOSIONS
Chemical Explosion
caused by chemical
reactions like burning
of gunpowder
CATEGORIES OF EXPLOSIONS
Shock Wave
outward movements from
the center of pressure
pushing toward the front in
a vertical swell in a speed
much higher than the
speed of sound in air
DAMAGE MECHANISM
Shock Heating
the energy added to the material by
the shock wave exceeds the energy
when it relaxes- this difference is
left in the material as heat and
becomes a source of potential
danger to happen and greater
damage and injury
DAMAGE MECHANISM
Fragmentation
refers to shattered physical
objects by building pressure on
the object
causing damage to objects and
bodies it may encounter along
its path
DAMAGE MECHANISM
Blast Wave
created when the
atmosphere surrounding
the explosion is forcibly
pushed back
DAMAGE MECHANISM
Water Shock
explosives are detonated in
water
occurs when bombs are
tested in open seas
DAMAGE MECHANISM
Cratering and Earth Shock
explosives are detonated
underground thus
producing an earthquake
creates holes and/or crater
DAMAGE MECHANISM
Pressure
can cause injuries such as
rupture of internal air-filled
organs, including ear drums,
lungs or intestines
can happen before and after the
blast
CATEGORIES OF HUMAN INJURIES
FROM EXPLOSIONS
Impact
occur when the force of
explosion causes
something to hit the body
or the body to hit
something
CATEGORIES OF HUMAN INJURIES
FROM EXPLOSIONS
Burns Inhalation
CATEGORIES OF HUMAN INJURIES
FROM EXPLOSIONS
Avoid the use of communication
devices within 500 feet.
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
given off by these devices can
trigger spark or detonation
RESPONDING TO AN EXPLOSION
INCIDENTS
Alert appropriate government
agencies
RESPONDING TO AN EXPLOSION
INCIDENTS
Secure the area of incident
RESPONDING TO AN EXPLOSION
INCIDENTS
COLLECTION, HANDLING
AND PRESERVATION OF
EVIDENCE
The debris from the scene
will fall into a pattern that will
reveal the focus of the blast.
Use surgical gloves
Take photographs before you
when picking up
remove anything. Collect
evidence from the scene debris and remove additional
material up to about 5 inches
deep from the soil
EXPLOSIVE DEBRIS
Use metal cans to keep
evidence collected. Debris collected from
different locations relative to
Fasten and mark the the center of the blast must
cans with initials, date, be kept in separate
exhibit number and containers and labelled
other pertinent accordingly.
information
EXPLOSIVE DEBRIS
To prevent cross-
contamination, evidence
Wires that are collected from the crime
scene should not be placed
recovered must be
in the same package as
wrapped in tissue paper those collected from a
before they are packed. suspect. Comparison
standards should be also be
packed separately.
EXPLOSIVE DEBRIS
Do not attempt to
deactivate any explosive
Possibly, you may recover
device. In the event of
fingerprints from the surface
presence of explosives, of the explosives. Process
call the unit responsible the fingerprints.
in dealing with similar
substances.
EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES AND
DEVICES
Materials such as batteries,
wires and cap fragments
must be placed in separate
Consider any piece of metal cans. Items with tool
material in the explosive marks must be wrapped in
as material evidence. tissue paper and secured
with tape. Mark the cans
with initials, date and exhibit
number.
EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES AND
DEVICES
Collect about 50 grams
of the suspected
Recovered materials and
explosive in a small,
suspected explosives are
clean, unused metal never sent through mail.
container. Mark the
container.
EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES AND
DEVICES
