EVIDENCE EVALUATION FROM THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE CRIME SCENE

CSI Agents:

Jackson Sevy, Alex Smolyar, Sarah Sorensen and Tessa Stanton

THE PROBLEM

Problem: Identify the mystery substances found at the crime scene.

Identifications:Metal A was identified as steel.Metal B was identified as aluminum.The liquid was identified as rubbing alcohol.The powder was identified as baking powder.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Property: a property is a characteristic such as length (physical) or flammability (chemical.)

Matter: anything that takes up space and has mass.

Physical Property: a characteristic of matter such as color or odor.

Chemical Property: a characteristic of matter which describes a substance’s ability to participate in chemical reactions.

Chemical Reaction: a change that happens when one or more substances change into new substances with different properties.

METAL EVALUATION

Metal A Mass: 2.6 g Density:7.85g/cm³ Dark in color MagneticIdentity: Steel

Metal B Mass: 1.8 g Density: 2.7g/cm³ Metallic looking Not magneticIdentity: Aluminum

Metal Samples

LIQUID EVALUATION

Strong odor Transparent FlammableIdentity: Isopropyl Alcohol

Liquid Sample

POWDER EVALUATIONWater Vinegar Iodine

Baking Powder • No reaction • Bubbling/Fizzing

• Turned black

Baking Soda • Slightly changed color

• Bubbling/Fizzing

• Hardened

• No reaction

Cornstarch • No reaction • No reaction • Turned black

Baby Powder • Solidified • Soft outer

shell• Stayed in one

bubble

• Solidified• Sticky• Soft outer

shell• Stayed in one

bubble

• No reaction

MYSTERY POWDER

• No reaction • Bubbling/Fizzing

• Turned black

Identity: Baking Powder

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

Metal A: SteelMetal B: AluminumLiquid: Isopropyl AlcoholPowder: Baking Powder