Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Microcrystal Techniques

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Basic Principles of Forensic Chemistry

  • 3415 Accesses

Abstract

Microcrystal-test techniques are based on highly developed chemical-precipitation reactions in which a polarized microscope is used to observe and distinguish different types of distinct crystals formed. This chapter focuses on the aqueous, volatility, and acid/anionic microcrystalline methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed, along with suggestions for the proper documentation of reagents, procedures, and results. Representative methods, such as gold chloride, gold chloride in phosphoric acid, platinum chloride, mercuric iodide, mercuric chloride, potassium permanganate, and sodium acetate tests, are presented with a complete description of characteristic crystals formed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Suggested Reading

  • California Department of Justice. Technical Procedures Manual for Controlled Substance Analysis; Sacramento, CA., 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chamot, E. M.; Mason, C. W. Handbook of Chemical Microscopy, Volume II: Chemical Methods and Inorganic Qualitative Analysis; McCrone Research Institute: Chicago, 1989, chaps. 11–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Forest, P. R.; Gaensslen, R. E.; Lee, H. C. Forensic Science: An Introduction to Criminalistics; McGraw-Hill: New York, 1983, chap. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, H. K. Drug and Microcrystal Tests for Forensic Drug identification. Microscope. 1999, 47, p.147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fulton, C. Modern Microcrystal Tests for Drugs; John Wiley & Sons. New York, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  • Julian, E. A. Microcrystalline Identification of Drugs of Abuse: The Psychedelic Amphetamines. J. Forensic Sci. 1990, 35, pp. 821–830.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Julian, E. A. Microcrystalline Identification of Drugs of Abuse: The White Cross Suite. J. Forensic Sci. 1981, 26, pp. 358–367.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moorehead, W. A Brief Background and Justification for the Continued Use of Microcrystal Tests. CAC News, 2000, 3rd quarter, pp 11–15.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Crime Laboratory, California Department of Justice, Riverside, CA, USA

    JaVed I. Khan

  2. Department of Chemistry, Victor Valley Community College, Victorville, CA, USA

    Thomas J. Kennedy

  3. Criminalist.us Professional Business Solutions, Chesterfield, VA, USA

    Donnell R. Christian Jr.

Authors
  1. JaVed I. Khan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thomas J. Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Donnell R. Christian Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to JaVed I. Khan .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Khan, J.I., Kennedy, T.J., Christian, D.R. (2012). Microcrystal Techniques. In: Basic Principles of Forensic Chemistry. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-437-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-437-7_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-934115-06-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-437-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation