How can you identify a burglar or thief? How can fingerprints be made visible
? What are the possibilities for detecting poisons?
12 students from Löbau, Seifhennersdorf and Niesky in grades 10/11 took part in the student academy (organized by the chemistry department of the HSZG and Mr. Frank Liebner from the Geschwister-Scholl-Gymnasium Löbau). They worked in 4 groups at the stations -fingerprints and footprints-, -hair and fibers-, -blood and saliva- and -drug detection-. Detection was carried out using classic physical and wet-chemical methods. For example, caffeine was isolated from black tea by sublimation and then compared using thin-layer chromatography (DC). The murexide detection showed a purple coloration for purine alkaloids (caffeine, uric acid).
All in all, it was a successful event and all traces were secured! We would like to thank all participants and supporters of the student academy.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Dieter Greif, Dipl.-Chem. Ilona Kitzig