Forensic chemistry

Forensic chemistry

Sam Holyman

London: Gatsby SEP 2010 | Pp52 | £6.00 | ISBN 978 190 716 801 7

Reviewed by Helen Owens

The purpose of SEP resources is to support effective learning in science, and explore ways in which novel and cheap resources can be used in secondary science to deliver the GCSE Science curriculum. The theme of this book is how forensic chemistry experiments can be carried out in the classroom and how they relate to the GCSE specification for a number of examining boards. 

The book is well structured and begins by explaining what forensic science is and the range of techniques that chemists can use on evidence collected at crime scenes. Blood and forensics is also covered, including how samples of blood can be identified and testing for alcohol in peoples' blood by constructing a simple breathalyser.