Legal Chemistry: A Guide to the Detection of Poisons, Examination of Tea, Stains, Etc., as Applied to Chemical Jurisprudence — John Shaqi
Legal Chemistry: A Guide to the Detection of Poisons, Examination of Tea, Stains, Etc., as Applied to Chemical JurisprudenceNaquet, Alfred
Science
Legal Chemistry: A Guide to the Detection of Poisons, Examination of Tea, Stains, Etc., as Applied to Chemical Jurisprudence
Naquet, Alfred
Chemistry, Forensic; Poisons
The detection of chlorine is very difficult owing to the great tendency
it possesses to become converted into chlorides or hydrochloric acid,
and it is only when found in a free state that its discovery is of
importance.
In case the gas exists uncombined in the alimentary canal, its odor
will be perceptible, and, upon boiling the suspected materials with
water, vapors will be evolved which impart a blue color to paper
saturated with a mixture of iodide of potassium and starch paste. If the
addition of sulphuric acid is necessary in order to produce the above
reactions, there is reason to suspect the presence of "chloride of lime"
or "_Eau de Javelle_."[J]
[J] The so-called "chloride of lime" is probably either a mixture of
chloride and hypochlorite of calcium or an oxydichloride of the metal;
"_Eau de Javelle_" is the corresponding potassium compound.--_Trans._
BROMINE.
In case bromine exists in a free state at the time the autopsy is made,
its presence will be detected by the reddish color and unpleasant odor
it possesses. Its isolation is accomplished by treating the materials
with bisulphide of carbon which, upon dissolving the bromine, acquires a
red color. If potassa is then added to the solution, it combines with
the bromine and, upon evaporating the decanted fluid, calcining the
residue, and treating it with water, a solution of bromide of potassium
is obtained. Upon adding chlorine-water and ether to a portion of the
fluid, and shaking the mixture, the bromine is liberated and is
dissolved by the ether. The etherial solution of bromine, which
possesses a reddish-yellow color, does not mingle with, but floats upon
the surface of the colorless aqueous solution.
If nitrate of silver is added to another portion of the aqueous solution
of bromide of potassium, a precipitate of bromide of silver, soluble in
ammonia, is formed.
In case the bromine has been converted into a bromide, it is necessary
to boil the alimentary canal and the articles of food contained therein
with water. The fluid is next filtered and agitated with chlorine-water
and ether. The liberated bromine is dissolved by the ether, which
acquires a reddish-yellow color. Upon decanting the solution, and
treating it with potassa, bromide of potassium is formed, and can be
detected as directed above.
IODINE.
The detection of iodine is accomplished by a process almost identical
with the above. The isolation of the iodine having been effected, it
remains to be ascertained that it imparts a blue color to starch paste,
and a violet color to bisulphide of carbon.
DETECTION OF METALS.
Under this head we will indicate the systematic course of analysis to be
pursued, supposing a mixture of several metals including arsenic and
antimony, to be under examination.
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