Critical thinking assignment - Essay Example

Task: Critical thinking assignment: Forensic Science Chapter The soil at my home and the soil found in front of the chemistry lab building are different. Naturally, soils in places of high populace tend to be heterogeneous, whereas soils in isolated places such as my home are homogenous. As regards chemical structure, soils are composed of different elements. Moreover, matter found in a different locality varies in composition, regardless of the chemical elements that make up its compound. The soil’s exposure to chemicals used for researching in the laboratory causes the difference in its composition.

At home, non-exposure of the soil to anything makes it homogenous. Conversely, soil in front of laboratory might have been used in forensic testing. The soil texture is compacted, which means that the soil has purity.Chapter 2The permeability of the soil could be measured during the chemical process. Basing on the soil’s texture, one can make conclusions concerning its composition (Orthmann and Hess 4). The physical properties to be assessed can also include weight, color, boiling point, and melting point of the soil.

Compaction can be instrumental in determining the consistency in soil samples of the same origin. Observation of color change is necessary in an experiment that measures consistency in the samples of soils.Chapter 3 The density gradient method assists in identifying an element found in the soil. In the experiment, a soil sample is placed in a cylinder containing solutions of varying densities. A band on the surface of the cylinder signifies the presence of elements in a soil sample. As such, the particles are suspended in between the solutions of different densities.

Observation method can also be instrumental in detecting elements in the soil when the sample is dissolved in a solution. This information can be useful during a criminal investigation, as it assists in analyzing evidence in a crime scene.Works CitedOrthmann, Christine, and Kären M. Hess. Criminal Investigation. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2012. Print.