1. National Transportation Safety Board
Aircraft Accident Report Mole Airlines Flight 1023 DC O’Hare Airport, Chicago October 23, 2010
SHS Task Force
Report Number: AA

2. SHS Task Forces October 2011
Mole Airlines Flight 1023
SHS Task Forces
October 2011

3. Flight leaving O’Hare headed for Boston
6:02 pm EST plane crashed outside of Detroit, MI
Evidence of a Pre-Crash Explosion Found
At the site of the explosion a material has been found.
Subsequent chemical analysis of the material shows it to be:
Carbon 37.01% Hydrogen 2.22%
Nitrogen 18.5% Oxygen 42.27%

4. Mangled passengers are found in and around the crash.
They are not recognizable and their dental records are not available.
They must be identified by the substances found in their belongings or in their bodies.
Upon further investigation one passenger showed a time of death approximated at one hour prior to the crash. Perhaps they were murdered?

5. Split into 12 task forces (2 chemist teams)
Work on analysis chemical substances from each Toe Tag.
You should be able to determine the EMPIRICAL FORMULA from the % compositions that were found.
Compare the formulas to known compounds on the data table to name the chemical.
Use passenger list to make a tentative identification.
Submit reports to your supervisor.

6. How to find the Empirical Formula….
C:37.01% H: 2.22% N: 18.5% O: 42.27%
How to find the Empirical Formula….
Assume 100g & Divide % composition by molecular mass
37.01g C / g/mol = mol C
2.22g H / g/mol = 2.20 mol H
18.5g N / 14.0 g/mol = 1.32 mol N
42.27g O / g/mol = mol O
Atomic Mass of Carbon

7. How to find the Empirical Formula….
Divide all answers by the smallest answer (1.32 mol)
3.083 mol C / 1.32 mol = 2.33
2.20 mol H / 1.32 mol = 1.67
1.32 mol N / 1.32 mol = 1.00
2.642 mol O / 1.32 mol = 2.00

8. Write the number of moles as a subscript in a chemical formula
3.083 mol C / 1.32 mol = 2.33 Carbon
2.20 mol H / 1.32 mol = 1.67 Hydrogen
1.32 mol N / 1.32 mol = 1.00 Nitrogen
2.642 mol O / 1.32 mol = 2.00 Oxygen
C2.33H1.67N1.00O2.00
Need to get whole numbers as subscripts

9. Multiply these answers by 2, 3, or 4 to get whole numbers
2 x 2.33 = Not close enough
3 x 2.33 = Very close to the WHOLE NUMBER 7
4 x 2.33 = Not close enough
USE 3
3 x 2.33 = 7 There are 7 C
3 x 1.67 = 5 There are 5 H
3 x 1.00 = 3 There are 3 N
3 x 2.00 = 6 There are 6 O
Write out the Empirical Formula using the whole numbers calculated.
Formula= C7H5N3O6

10. Look up Formula on Table to Identify
Formula= C7H5N3O6
Look up Formula on Table to Identify
Trinitrotoluene
Description: Explosive (TNT=dynamite)
What conclusions can be draw from the evidence?