JCE Online Journal of Chemical EducationDivision of Chemical Education, American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 

JCE Print
   Current Issue
 Previous Issues
 Supplements
 Search JCE Index

JCE Digital Library
   ChemInfo
 DigiDemos
 Featured Molecules
 LivTexts
 LrnCom
 QBank
 SymMath
 WebWare

JCE Software
   Latest Releases
 Software & Video
 Downloads
 Support

Only@JCE Online
   JCE Online Store
 JCE HS CLIC
 JCE Discussion Forums
   Biographical Snapshots
 ChemEd Resource Shelf
 Featured Molecules
 Hal's Picks
 Project Chemlab
 Reviewed WWW Sites
 "Web-Ed" Articles

About JCE
   Features
 Publications
 Operations
 Outreach
 Contact Us


  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2007  > April  >
In the Classroom
Teaching with Problems and Case Studies
The Analysis of a Murder, a Case Study
Frank J. Dinan, Steven H. Szczepankiewicz, Melinda Carnahan, and Michael T. Colvin
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Canisius College, Buffalo, NY 14208
Cover
April 2007
Vol. 84 No. 4
p. 617
Abstract
In this forensic chemistry case study, the torso of a young boy is found floating in London's River Thames. To determine the boy's origin, Scotland Yard enlists the aid of a professor who researches strontium distribution worldwide. The strontium concentration in the soils of a region is proportional to the concentration of strontium in the bones of the inhabitants of that region. The strontium concentration in the boy's bones indicates that he is from Nigeria. Analysis of bone samples collected throughout Nigeria allows the police to narrow the victim's origin to a small area of that country. Clever detective work leads to the apprehension of the likely perpetrator of the crime. In the laboratory, students perform strontium determinations, use these data to locate the victim's origin, and act as detectives to formulate a plan to apprehend his murderer(s). The case is also useable in "dry-lab" form to teach data handling and statistics in general chemistry and nonscience major chemistry courses.
Supplement
Case study, experimental procedures, dry-lab data and procedures for the instructor and students are available.
*
 Download
Contents
  JCE2007p0617W.pdf
 
JCE2007p0617W.zip
JCE2007p0617W.doc (Microsoft Word)
More Information
*
Citation
Dinan, Frank J.; Szczepankiewicz, Steven H.; Carnahan, Melinda; Colvin, Michael T. J. Chem. Educ. 2007, 84, 617.
*
Keywords
Analytical Chemistry; Applications of Chemistry; Atomic Spectroscopy; Collaborative / Cooperative Learning; First-Year Undergraduate / General; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; Humor / Puzzles / Games; Instrumental Methods; Laboratory Instruction; Physical Chemistry; Strontium; Upper-Division Undergraduate
*
History
Created:
Last Updated:
3/6/2007
3/8/2007
<< Previous Article Table of Contents Next Article >>
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2007  > April  > Page 617


Subscriptions
 Subscription Info
 Order Forms

JCE HS CLIC

Our Secondary School editors work hard to distill all the JCE materials to produce a fraction of particular interest to high school teachers. We call it CLIC.
 JCE HS CLIC

Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission
 Contributors' Corner

Advertisers
In recent years we have worked hard to better match our advertisers with our readers. When shopping for chemistry education materials, visit our advertisers' WWW sites first.
 Recent Advertisers

Be An Ambassador
Take JCE along on your outreach missions. Copies of the Journal, guest access to JCE Online, our publications catalog, and more are available for your participants.
 Outreach with JCE

Comments to
jceonline@chem.wisc.edu		 Copyright © Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society.
All rights reserved.