Fingermark dusting powders are an important tool of forensic practitioners, being a first-choice process for most crime scene investigators. The development of new products is of utmost importance for forensic science. Hydrazones comprise compounds derived from ketones or aldehydes in reaction with hydrazines. These reactions are widely studied in organic chemistry because of the versatility of these compounds in organic synthesis. The study of these reactions leads to the understanding of the nucleophilicity of hydrazines, as well as the electrophilicity of aldehydes and ketones. The present work presents one proposal of experimental organic chemistry, aiming at a new application of this classic class of organic substances in forensic chemistry, specifically as a developer of latent fingermarks due to the variations of the color of the compounds, with spectra ranging in a range from 250 to 500 nm. These compounds were identified by Infrared Spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry. The development on glass surfaces demonstrated the potential application of these compounds in everyday life situations.

The use of anabolic androgenic steroids is largely restricted worldwide since they are associated with innumerous side effects and health damage. However, apprehensions of formulations of anabolic agents have been extensively increasing throughout the world, making their analysis a common task in the forensic field. In this sense, a set of three experiments was developed and applied to undergraduate students of Forensic Chemistry dealing with visual inspection of apprehended formulations of anabolic androgenic steroids as well as chemical identification by Infrared Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. Moreover, the classroom evaluated the extraction of steroidal active ingredients by ultrasonic and microwave-assisted extraction. The experimental procedures allied with the theory behind these topics provided an important background to the students on distinct extraction methods and analytical techniques used in the analysis of anabolic agents. Finally, the classroom was led to critically evaluate and interpret the results as well as to question the adequacy of experimental methods used in forensic analysis to stimulate their critical thinking.

The development of fingermarks is an important step in criminal cases. Latent fingermarks require applications of reagents to be developed before they can be visualized. Different techniques to enhance fingermarks’ visualization have been employed and the powder dusting is the most common among them. The use of food spices as latent fingermarks developers could be an alternative method of experiment in chemistry teaching, considering that they are low cost and accessible. In this work, an experimental methodology was developed and can be applied in undergraduate chemistry teaching for the extraction of components from food spices, their chromatographic analysis and application on the development of latent fingermarks.