Crimebusters 2014

Crimebusters 2014

B Division

Event Leader Instructions

Overview: This is a lab-based event. Safety protocol must be followed by the teams at all times, anyone

found not following safety protocol will be disqualified immediately. Upon entering the room teams will

undergo an inspection to make sure they have all necessary safety apparel and have not brought any

disallowed materials. Teams will be given testing materials. They will then perform tests, either at their

tables (powders, fibers) or at a central location (firearms/toolmarks), and write a summary of their findings.

Setup:

You will need to set up throughout the rooms ahead of time the firearms and toolmarks stations, as

well as a powder burn test image station, as per the directions included with them. 1 per room.

Have a pile of matches/lighters and tealight candles at the front of the room for teams to get if they

want to do their own fiber burn test. This keeps teams from lighting the candle until they’re actually

ready to use it.

We are NOT allowing burn tests on powders, set out the pictures at the powder burn test station.

Each team will need a bottle of KI. Teams should have brought their own wash bottle of distilled

water and disposable cup for waste. All waste can go in a trash can (NOT down a sink).

Each team will need a testing supply bag (popsicle sticks, ISO alcohol, HCl, NaOH), evidence bag

(white powders and fibers), evidence file, and response sheet.

Running the event:

If teams are lining up outside the door early, I recommend allowing them to enter and doing the

material check as they come into the room. Use the enclosed allowed material quick check card to

verify that they have all the proper safety equipment, and confiscate any disallowed materials.

When it is time to start the event, take roll and check wristbands. Separate teams that are from the

same school.

Explain that the firearms and toolmarks and powder burn test stations are set up in multiple

locations, and candles/matches are up front.

Pass out the tests, tell them they have 50 minutes to complete the test, and begin.

Keep an eye out for students putting their goggles on top of their head. Warn them once, then

disqualify them. If they have fogging problems, designate a safe area they may come to and

remove their goggles until the fog subsides. Make sure to tell them this ahead of time.

Scoring: Points have been pre-assigned to each question in the answer key. Ties will be broken by the

better part C (analysis) score.

Please stress to the students not to contaminate the samples by double dipping or mixing in

the lids. Tell them real forensic scientists would never do that. (Plus, we want to be able to

reuse the parts of the samples that are left in the future)

Crimebusters 2014

CRIMEBUSTERS ALLOWABLE ITEMS QUICK CHECK CARD Teams may bring only these items:

i. spot plates, test tubes and test tube holders or any containers in which they can perform the tests

ii. droppers, popsicle sticks, spatulas, plastic spoons, tongs, forceps, &/or stirring rods for handling materials

iii. pH paper iv. flame test equipment v. thermometer

vi. a ruler and/or calipers vii. a wash bottle of distilled water viii. hand lenses or loupes ix. paper towels x. a disposable cup for solid waste xi. writing instruments xii. one 8.5” x 11” two-sided page of notes

containing information in any form from any source (sheet protector allowed).

STUDENTS MUST BE WEARING THE FOLLOWING: o closed-toed shoes o indirect vent chemical splash goggles o pants or skirts that cover the legs to the ankles o a chemical apron or a lab coat that reaches the knees o long hair must be tied back

Chemical gloves are optional.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crimebusters 2014

CRIMEBUSTERS ALLOWABLE ITEMS QUICK CHECK CARD Teams may bring only these items:

i. spot plates, test tubes and test tube holders or any containers in which they can perform the tests

ii. droppers, popsicle sticks, spatulas, plastic spoons, tongs, forceps, &/or stirring rods for handling materials

iii. pH paper iv. flame test equipment v. thermometer

vi. a ruler and/or caliper vii. a wash bottle of distilled water viii. hand lenses or loupes ix. paper towels x. a disposable cup for solid waste xi. writing instruments xii. one 8.5” x 11” two-sided page of notes

containing information in any form from any source (sheet protector allowed).

STUDENTS MUST BE WEARING THE

FOLLOWING: o closed-toed shoes o indirect vent chemical splash goggles o pants or skirts that cover the legs to the ankles o a chemical apron or a lab coat that reaches the knees o long hair must be tied back

Chemical gloves are optional.

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

Trophy Trouble

Case Details: On the morning of March 14

th, Police were called to Viking High School. It appears there had been a

break in. When they got there, they found that someone had shot the lock off the trophy case and stolen

the Science Olympiad trophy from inside. Officer Stephens, the schools’ resource officer, had gathered

the potential suspects for questioning.

The police gathered the following evidence:

Unknown powder (U1) was recovered from the edge of the case.

It appears the suspect wore gloves, which left behind trace amounts of cornstarch from the

lining.

The police found an impression in the ground near a spill outside where the suspect appeared to

have dropped their drink while running away.

The trophy was located in a nearby dumpster, it had been hit by the bullet that broke the lock.

When removing the trophy from the case, the suspect appears to have torn the synthetic felt

covering lining the case.

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

SUSPECTS: Coach Strange, Science Olympiad Team Coach

Motive: Wanted to take the trophy home to use as an awesome giant drinking glass.

Alibi: Says he had been busy all day helping his son build a Lego city with real working

stoplights. He drew lines on the city’s roads with talc. They used baking soda to clean

some of the car’s meal parts. His son found a synthetic material to use for a toy car

carwash. At the end of the day, Coach Strange gave his son a chewable vitamin,

containing vitamin C. They both decided to polish the cars with their own special

formula of cleaner, which had the following properties: Crystalline, semi-opaque,

NaOH forms precipitate, pH= acidic, water soluble, alcohol insoluble. An old

handgun was in a safe in his closet that Coach Strange said he inherited from his

grandfather.

Processing Details: Coach Strange was examined, powders P1 and P2, and fiber F1

were recovered from him. Bullet casings and his coffee mug were collected.

Director Upton, Athletic Director

Motive: Jealous that the Science Olympiad had more trophies than the soccer team.

Alibi: Claims she was working on the soccer field all day, mending the synthetic nets and

lining the field with calcium carbonate chalk. She also had a few alka seltzer tablets to

help with her indigestion after lunch, after eating salty foods high in sodium acetate. She

had access to the track team’s starting pistol. She had also been spraying the inside of the

team’s soccer cleats with a special powder to keep them smelling fresh, with the

following properties: Crystalline, semi-opaque, NaOH forms precipitate, pH= acidic,

water soluble, white flame

Processing Details: Found with powders P3 and P4, and fiber F2 on her. Bullet casings

and her coffee mug were collected.

Aarti, Captain of the Viking Science Olympiad team

Motive: The ultimate competitor, Aarti would stop at nothing, including staging a

robbery, so she can get more forensics practice in before the next competition.

Alibi: Says she had spent the entire day practicing powder analysis with her partner,

Safah, for the Forensics event. They had been focusing on identification of flour, sugar,

and baking soda. Their custom made lab coats were made from linen plant fibers,

embroidered with their school logo. Aarti had gone to the firing range just to learn more

about bullets for the Forensics event. She had been mixing a special powder to really test

her skills, which had the following properties: white, dull, strong base, HCl fizzes, water

soluble, iodine turns black, continues burning after removal from flame, pH= base

Processing Details: Aarti was found with powders P5 and P6, and fiber F3 on her.

Bullet casings and her water bottle were collected.

Alec, Competitor from the rival school, Whirlie High.

Motive: Thought that his team should have won the trophy at the tournament.

Alibi: Spent the day hunting with his dad. He followed deer tracks through the sand. He

chewed on salted sunflower seeds while waiting in the deer stand. Once he got home he

washed all his cotton (plant fiber) hunting clothes in borax to clean the dirt from the woods

off. He had used a special powder to mask his scent from the deer, which has the following

properties: water insoluble, HCl violent fizz, fine crystal structure (looks like powder),

iodine no reaction, odorless, pH= mild base

Processing Details: Alec was found with powders P7 and P8, and fiber F4 on him. Bullet

casings and his water bottle were collected.

.

All evidence collected from the suspects has been labeled and placed in the case file.

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

FIBER IMAGES – Microscopy

FIBER 1

FIBER 2

FIBER 3

FIBER 4

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART A – Chemical topic (50%) ( ___ / 77) Unknown Substances- Fill in the chart, use the example as a guide. There are no powder mixes.

Evidence Source What is it?

(6 pts each) Answer the questions based on your observations

(1 pt each question)

Who does this

implicate? (1 pt each)

(If result was expected, say

nobody)

Example Pool Boric Acid

or H3BO3

Is it an acid, base, or neutral? acid

Does it react with HCl? No Pool Boy

U1 Scene (Name not required)

Write up to 5 properties you observed for the Unknown (2 pts each):

P1 Coach

Strange

Does it react with iodine?

Is it transparent, translucent or opaque?

P2 Coach

Strange

Is it an acid, base, or neutral?

Does it react with HCl?

P3 Director

Upton Does it react with iodine?

Is it water soluble?

P4 Director

Upton Is it transparent, translucent, or opaque?

Does it sink, float, or dissolve in water?

P5 Aarti Is it water soluble?

Does it react with iodine?

P6 Aarti Is it crystal or powder?

Does it react with HCl?

P7 Alec Is it water soluble?

Is it an acid, base, or neutral?

P8 Alec What is the color?

Does it sink, float, or dissolve in alcohol?

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART A – continued ( ___ / 20) Questions – 2 pt each

1. Who should you call in case of an emergency in the lab?

a. nobody

b. a friend

c. the ghostbusters

d. the instructor

e. anybody

2. Why is it not recommended to wear contact lenses in a lab?

a. Chemical vapor could become trapped between the lenses and the eye.

b. Chemical vapor could literally react with the lenses.

c. Lenses could inadvertently fall out of the eye.

d. All of the above

3. Goggles should be worn:

a. when working with solutions and liquids

b. when fumes are present

c. when doing specific dangerous experiments

d. all the time during lab

4. Why is eating and drinking in the lab, including candy and gum, not permitted?

a. The lab would get quite messy

b. You could be poisoned

c. You wouldn’t have time to finish your experiments

d. All of the above

5. To prevent accidents during laboratory activities , you should

a. use short cuts

b. follow directions

c. hurry ahead of others

d. ask someone else to do the work.

6. What should you do if you spill a chemical?

a. Clean it up really fast

b. Notify the students around you

c. Notify the instructor

d. Throw some paper towels over it

e. Both B and C

7. True or False: Its ok to work alone in the lab.

8. True or False: Sandals, open toed shoes and shoes with woven tops can be worn.

9. True or False: You don’t need goggles when practicing at home.

10. True or False: Chemicals should always be stored properly.

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART B- Physical Evidence (30%) ( ___ / 25)

FIBERS Fill in the chart.

Which suspect(s) does this implicate? ________________________________ (5 pts)

Evidence Source

What is it, animal, plant, or

synthetic?

(5 pts each)

Fiber 1 Coach

Strange

Fiber 2 Director

Upton

Fiber 3 Aarti

Fiber 4 Alec

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART B- Physical Evidence (30%) ( ____ / 19)

Firearms

Compare the bullet found at the scene to the casings taken from each suspect, located at the firearms

station.

1. What is the diameter of the bullet on the trophy? ______________mm (3 pts)

2. A bullet must fit snugly inside the casing it is fired from. Which casing(s) match the bullet on the

trophy?___________ (3 pts)

3. What is the diameter of the inside of the casing(s) that matches the bullet? _____________mm (3

pts)

4. Which suspect(s) casing matches the bullet found at the scene? ________________ (5 pts)

Toolmarks and Impressions

Compare the replication of the imprint found at the scene to the drink containers taken from each suspect,

located at the toolmarks station.

1= Coach Strange, 2= Director Upton, 3= Aarti, 4=Alec

Which suspect(s) does this implicate? ______________________________ (5 pts)

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART C – Analysis (20%) ( ____ / 40)

1. Based on the evidence you analyzed, who shot the trophy? _________________________ (15 pts)

2. What evidence found at the scene could have been left by this suspect and why (list)? (10 pts)

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

3. What evidence found on the suspect could have come from the scene and why (list)? (10 pts)

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

4. Was there any incriminating evidence against other suspects? YES or No (5 pts)

If so, how would you explain it?_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

When you are done, please clean up!!

Reseal your evidence containers (do not put used evidence back in them!)

Put all unused evidence back in the evidence bag (U1, Powders P1-P8, Fibers F1-F4)

Put all tools back in the tool bag (HCl, NaOH, ISO, unused popsicle sticks) Leave the

KI separate!

Dispose of all waste and used popsicle sticks. Solids should go in the trash can, liquids

can go down the sink.

Safety goggles must remain on until you leave the room.

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

ANSWER KEY

PART A – Chemical Topic (50%) ( ____ / 77)

Evidence Source

What is it? (6 points

each, name or formula

acceptable)

What observations did you make? (1 point each)

Who does this

implicate?

(1 pt each)

Example Pool Boric Acid

or H3BO3

Is it an acid, base, or neutral? acid

Does it react with HCl? No Pool Boy

U1 Scene (Name not required)

(Magnesium Sulfate)

Write up to 5 properties you observed for the Unknown (2 pts each): Crystalline,

semi-opaque, NaOH forms precipitate, pH= acidic, water soluble, white flame Director Upton

P1 Coach

Strange Vitamin C

(Ascorbic acid)

Does it react with Iodine? no

Is it transparent, translucent or opaque? opaque Nobody

P2 Coach

Strange Talc

Is it an acid, base, or neutral? (mild) acid

Does it react with HCl? no Nobody

P3 Director

Upton Cornstarch

Does it react with iodine? yes (turns black)

Does it react with NaOH? yes (turns to goo) Director Upton

P4

Director

Upton Calcium Carbonate

CaCO3

chalk

Is it transparent, translucent, or opaque? opaque

Does it sink, float, or dissolve in water? dissolve Nobody

P5 Aarti Sugar

(Sucrose)

Is it water soluble? yes

Does it react with iodine? no Nobody

P6 Aarti Baking Soda (CHNaO3)

(Sodium Bicarbonate)

Is it crystal or powder? powder

Does it react with HCl? yes (effervesces) Nobody

P7 Alec Sodium chloride

Salt

NaCl

Is it water soluble? yes

Is it an acid, base, or neutral? (mild) acid Nobody

P8 Alec Borax What is the color? white or off white, either answer ok

Does it sink, float, or dissolve in water? dissolve Nobody

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART A – Continued ( ___ / 20)

Questions (2 pts each)

1. Who should you call in case of an emergency in the lab?

a. nobody

b. a friend

c. the ghostbusters

d. the instructor

e. anybody

2. Why is it not recommended to wear contact lenses in a lab?

a. Chemical vapor could become trapped between the lenses and the eye.

b. Chemical vapor could literally react with the lenses.

c. Lenses could inadvertently fall out of the eye.

d. All of the above

3. Goggles should be worn:

a. when working with solutions and liquids

b. when fumes are present

c. when doing specific dangerous experiments

d. all the time during lab

4. Why is eating and drinking in the lab, including candy and gum, not permitted?

a. The lab would get quite messy

b. You could be poisoned

c. You wouldn’t have time to finish your experiments

d. All of the above

5. To prevent accidents during laboratory activities , you should

a. use short cuts

b. follow directions

c. hurry ahead of others

d. ask someone else to do the work.

6. What should you do if you spill a chemical?

a. Clean it up really fast

b. Notify the students around you

c. Notify the instructor

d. Throw some paper towels over it

e. Both B and C

7. True or False: Its ok to work alone in the lab.

8. True or False: Sandals, open toed shoes and shoes with woven tops can be worn.

9. True or False: You don’t need goggles when practicing at home.

10. True or False: Chemicals should always be stored properly.

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART B – Physical Evidence (30%) ( ___ / 25)

FIBERS Fill in the chart.

Which suspect(s) does this implicate? Coach Strange and Director Upton

(5 pts, 2.5 if only one listed, none if someone wrong is listed)

Evidence Source

What is it, animal, plant, or

synthetic?

(5 pts each)

Fiber 1 Coach

Strange Synthetic (nylon)

Fiber 2 Director

Upton Synthetic (Polyester)

Fiber 3 Aarti Plant (linen)

Fiber 4 Alec Plant (Cotton)

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART B- Physical Evidence (30%) ( ____ / 19)

Firearms

Compare the bullet found at the scene to the casings taken from each suspect, located at the firearms

station.

1. What is the diameter of the bullet on the trophy? 9 or 10 mm (3 pts)

2. A bullet must fit snugly inside the casing it is fired from. Which casing(s) match the bullet on the

trophy? Casing 2 (3 pts)

3. What is the diameter of the inside of the casing(s) that matches the bullet? 10 mm (3 pts)

4. Which suspect(s) casing matches the bullet found at the scene? Director Upton (5 pts)

Toolmarks and Impressions

Compare the replication of the imprint found at the scene to the drink containers taken from each suspect,

located at the toolmarks station.

Which suspect(s) does this implicate? Director Upton (5 pts)

Crimebusters 2014 STATES

Case #8675301

PART C – Analysis (20%) (_____/40)

1. Based on the evidence you analyzed, who shot the trophy? Director Upton (15 points)

2. What evidence found at the scene could have been left by this suspect, and why? (10 points)

U1- matches the characteristics of her soccer cleat powder (4 pts)

Firearm- bullet found in trophy matches casing diameter of her gun (3 pts)

Toolmark- impression in ground matches her coffee mug (3 pts)

3. What evidence found on the perpetrator could have come from the scene, and why? (5 points each, 3

for ID, 2 for explanation)

Fiber F2 (synthetic)- could have transferred to her from the banner in the trophy case

Powder P3 (cornstarch)- could have transferred to her while wearing gloves used at the break in.

4. Was there any incriminating evidence against other suspects? YES or No (5 points)

If so, how would you explain it? F2: Coach Strange’s synthetic fibers could have also been from the trophy case, they were both

synthetic.. 3 pts for circling YES, 2 pts for ID, 2 pts for explanation.