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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 23
(2018) pp 143-144
A Tale of Two Spices: Differential Discrimination between the Chemical Properties of
Saffron and Turmeric in a Forensic Chemistry Laboratory
Kelsey Sinclair, Arsalan Mirjafari and Sulekha Rao Coticone*
Department of Chemistry and Physics, Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers, FL, 33965, scoticon@fgcu.edu
Received June 11, 2018. Accepted July 9, 2018.
Published: 18 July 2018
Abstract. It is
well-known that active learning exercises to solve real life problems can
kindle student interest. One of the specific topics that stimulates student
interest is the application of chemistry in the field of forensic science. In
the present study, students learn to apply presumptive, mid-level, and
confirmatory tests to distinguish two spices with medical benefits. Students
initially perform color spot tests (CSTs) followed by Thin Layer Chromatography
(TLC) and then Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to distinguish between the
chemical properties of saffron and turmeric. To further characterize the two
spices, different solvents are used for thin layer chromatography (TLC).
Finally, using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance data, students learn to distinguish
the chemical structures of the active ingredients found in the two spices. Once
all three procedures are completed, students would have employed three
categories of analytical techniques and determined the sensitivity of each test
used by most forensic scientists in drug identification.
Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; analytical chemistry; forensic science
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: scoticon@fgcu.edu)
Article in PDF format (112 KB) HTML format
Supporting Materials:
One supporting file is available containing Instructor notes and
a student handout.
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