HOSA Forensic Science Review Questions with Verified Answers Latest Update 2024
Locard's Principle of Exchange - Answers contact between people and objects during a crime can result
in a transfer of material
direct evidence - Answers evidence (if true) that proves a fact (eyewitness account)
circumstantial evidence - Answers evidence that does not directly support a fact (blood stain or
fingerprint)
physical evidence - Answers an object used to support elements of a crime
biological evidence - Answers organic matter used to support elements of a crime
class evidence - Answers evidence that narrows an identity to a group of persons or things
individual evidence - Answers evidence that narrows identity to a single person or thing
trace evidence - Answers a small amount of physical or biological evidence
crime-scene investigation team - Answers police officers, detectives, crime-scene investigators, medical
examiners, and specialists
crime-scene investigation - Answers recognize, document, photograph, and collect evidence
first-responding officer - Answers identify extent of crime scene, secure the scene, and separate
witnesses
primary crime scene - Answers location of where the crime took place
secondary crime scene - Answers alternate location where additional evidence can be collected
crime-scene investigator - Answers processes crime scenes (recognize, document, and preserve
evidence)
triangulation - Answers mathematical method of calculating the location of an object based on the
position of other objects
paper bindle - Answers folded paper used to hold evidence
chain of custody - Answers document that records how and when evidence has been handled
datum point - Answers a permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene
crime-scene reconstruction - Answers forming a hypothesis of the sequence of evidence before, during,
and after the crime
forensic laboratory - Answers where evidence is analyzed
, detective - Answers develops a possible crime-scene scenario
toxicology - Answers the study of poisons, toxins, drugs, and other substances people use for medical,
recreational, or criminal purposes
handling substance evidence - Answers process it, weigh it, separate it, identify it
forensic toxicology - Answers science of determining relationship between exposure to a substance and
toxic or lethal effects of exposure on humans
poisons - Answers natural or manufactured chemicals that can cause severe harm
toxins - Answers naturally occurring poisonous substances living things produce
toxicologist - Answers examines the effects of harmful substances on the body, establishes cause and
effect of exposure, and develops treatments and techniques for detection
toxicity - Answers degree to which a substance is harmful to a person at a given time
factors of toxicity - Answers dose, duration, nature of exposure, interactions, by-products when broken
down or metabolized
questions for toxicological testing - Answers which substances?
illegal components?
how much of each?
presumptive testing - Answers preliminary chemical tests performed by first-responding officers to
identify a substance (does not provide positive confirmation)
confirmatory testing - Answers multistep chemical process that provides a positive identification of a
substance
colorimetric testing - Answers most common form of presumptive testing that results in a color change
chromatography, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, wet chemistry - Answers most common
forms of confirmatory testing
acute poisoning - Answers poisoning caused by a high dose over a short period of time; symptoms
present themselves immediately
chronic poisoning - Answers poisoning caused by low doses over long periods of time; symptoms
present themselves gradually
heavy metals - Answers poisonous metallic substances that are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through
the skin or mucous membranes
Locard's Principle of Exchange - Answers contact between people and objects during a crime can result
in a transfer of material
direct evidence - Answers evidence (if true) that proves a fact (eyewitness account)
circumstantial evidence - Answers evidence that does not directly support a fact (blood stain or
fingerprint)
physical evidence - Answers an object used to support elements of a crime
biological evidence - Answers organic matter used to support elements of a crime
class evidence - Answers evidence that narrows an identity to a group of persons or things
individual evidence - Answers evidence that narrows identity to a single person or thing
trace evidence - Answers a small amount of physical or biological evidence
crime-scene investigation team - Answers police officers, detectives, crime-scene investigators, medical
examiners, and specialists
crime-scene investigation - Answers recognize, document, photograph, and collect evidence
first-responding officer - Answers identify extent of crime scene, secure the scene, and separate
witnesses
primary crime scene - Answers location of where the crime took place
secondary crime scene - Answers alternate location where additional evidence can be collected
crime-scene investigator - Answers processes crime scenes (recognize, document, and preserve
evidence)
triangulation - Answers mathematical method of calculating the location of an object based on the
position of other objects
paper bindle - Answers folded paper used to hold evidence
chain of custody - Answers document that records how and when evidence has been handled
datum point - Answers a permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene
crime-scene reconstruction - Answers forming a hypothesis of the sequence of evidence before, during,
and after the crime
forensic laboratory - Answers where evidence is analyzed
, detective - Answers develops a possible crime-scene scenario
toxicology - Answers the study of poisons, toxins, drugs, and other substances people use for medical,
recreational, or criminal purposes
handling substance evidence - Answers process it, weigh it, separate it, identify it
forensic toxicology - Answers science of determining relationship between exposure to a substance and
toxic or lethal effects of exposure on humans
poisons - Answers natural or manufactured chemicals that can cause severe harm
toxins - Answers naturally occurring poisonous substances living things produce
toxicologist - Answers examines the effects of harmful substances on the body, establishes cause and
effect of exposure, and develops treatments and techniques for detection
toxicity - Answers degree to which a substance is harmful to a person at a given time
factors of toxicity - Answers dose, duration, nature of exposure, interactions, by-products when broken
down or metabolized
questions for toxicological testing - Answers which substances?
illegal components?
how much of each?
presumptive testing - Answers preliminary chemical tests performed by first-responding officers to
identify a substance (does not provide positive confirmation)
confirmatory testing - Answers multistep chemical process that provides a positive identification of a
substance
colorimetric testing - Answers most common form of presumptive testing that results in a color change
chromatography, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, wet chemistry - Answers most common
forms of confirmatory testing
acute poisoning - Answers poisoning caused by a high dose over a short period of time; symptoms
present themselves immediately
chronic poisoning - Answers poisoning caused by low doses over long periods of time; symptoms
present themselves gradually
heavy metals - Answers poisonous metallic substances that are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through
the skin or mucous membranes
