Lesson 4 Page 2
Discover: Ink Analysis
In addition to the handwriting on a note, forensic scientists can gain much information from the ink used to write it. They are sometimes even able to match the ink from a note to the pen that wrote it.
Ink is a mixture of various pigments (colours) used to produce the colour you see when you write.
Many chemical mixtures can be separated and identified using a scientific process called chromatography. The ink used in pens for writing can be separated using a simple version of this process called paper chromatography. Chromatography allows scientists to match the ink from a handwritten note to the pen that might have written it.
Video
Notebook: How is paper chromatography used to analyze ink samples?
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Fun Connection
Some people believe that certain personality traits can be determined by examining someone's handwriting. Although this method has been used to a certain extent in forensic investigation, its validity is not entirely proven. Following is a handwriting analysis test—see if it provides an accurate description of your personality.