Analytical Forensic Pharmacology/Glossary of Terms

Aldehyde-Group of organic compounds that contains the group –CHO.

Alkaloid-A naturally-occurring amine produced by a plant

Amine-Organic compound with nitrogen as a key element and is structurally similar to ammonia.

amu–abbreviation for atomic mass

Analyte-A substance being tested for analysis

Assay-A scientific test.

Chromophore-A grouping of that causes coloration. Chromophores are generally groups of atoms that have dissociated or conjugated electrons.

Formaldehyde-The Simplest aldehyde. Chemical structure – HCHO. Also called methanal.

FTIR-Abbreviation for Fourrier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

GC-Abbreviation for Gas Chromatography

Provenance-The origin from of something. For forensic science. In forensic drug analysis, this includes the area where a drug could be grown / made and the chemicals used for its preparation.

Quantitative Property-A characteristic of a substance that exists in a range of magnitudes, and can therefore be measured. Measurements of any particular quantitative property are expressed as a specific quantity, referred to as a unit, multiplied by a number. Examples of physical quantities are distance, mass, and time.

Racemic-Equal mixture of optical isomers

Spectra-A reading or printout from a spectrometer.

Spot Test-Forensic Chemistry Term for a presumptive test that changes color.

TLC-Abbreviation for Thin Layer Chromatography