Terminology: Chemistry

Any fuel that is used to start, spread, or increase the intensity of a fire.

A fast, exothermic oxidation reaction that occurs between a fuel and oxygen, generating heat and light. this reaction is slower than explosive reactions.

Rapid combustion that has a reaction rate slower than the speed of sound.

Decomposition of an explosive that has a reaction rate faster than the speed of sound.

A rapid release of energy and pressure that is accompanied with the production of heat, sound, and light.

Release of heat into the environment.

Rapid oxidation of a fuel with the production of heat and light.

An analytical technique that is used to develop the absorption or emission pattern in the infrared spectrum of the chemical components of evidence to identify them using a database of standards.

An analytical chemistry technique used to analyze and identify the components of a gaseous sample extracted from the headspace of a glass container containing solid or liquid evidence

The air space that is present above and around a contained sample that is in a glass container.

An analytical chemistry technique used to analyze and identify the components of an aqueous sample.

The chemical process by which an element or compound combines with oxygen.

An analytical device that uses X-rays to magnify the surface morphology of microscopic material and to determine the elemental makeup of the evidence.

A chemical property that characterizes the ability of a materials to enter gas phase spontaneously at room temperatures.

An analytical technique that uses X-rays to determine the crystalline structure of the evidence.