Forensic Chemistry > 1. The job of the forensic chemist is to identify materials and trace their origins > The Inorganic Chemical Properties >
Explain that the inorganic chemical properties of soils and other materials may be useful evidence
Analysis of soil offers important evidence to forensic chemists in solving crimes. Soil contains both organic and inorganic compounds such as weathered rock material, pollen, air, water, clay, silt and sand. Questioned soil sample, usually contains unusual substance from a crime scene, can be compared from a known source. For the analysis, same procedure for the collection of the questioned soil sample should be followed for the collection of the known sample. For example, a soil sample was collected from a suspected shoe which was assumed to come from a muddy surface. The known sample should also be collected from a muddy surface. Microscopic analysis, size distribution, density comparison and pH comparison are some parameters that can be performed. If such parameters from the analysis of the questioned and known samples matched, it can be assumed that the suspect came from that specific place.