Mole

The Strange Case of Mole Airlines Flight 10231
Karl F. Jones Science Department, Newman Smith High School, 2335 North Josey Lane, Carrollton, TX 75006; jonesk@cfbisd.edu

Scene of the Crash At6:02 a.m. you and your team of medical examiners are called to the scene of a plane crash. You find evidence of a pre-crash explosion. At the site of the explosion a material has been found. Subsequentchemical analysis shows: C 37.01% H 2.22% N 18.5% O 42.27%

The mangled passengers are found in and around the crash. They must be identified by the substances found in their belongings or in theirbodies, since they are not recognizable and their dental records are not available. Upon further investigation one passenger was suspected of having been murdered before the crash: the time of deathwas approximated at one hour prior to the crash.

Table 1. Percent Composition Data of the Compounds Found in or with the Passengers’ Bodies
Passenger Compound Analysis (%) C 67.31 63.15 46.66 3 4 572.15 15.87 75.42 37.01 6 7 57.14 80.48 81.58 8 60.00 63.56 H 6.98 5.30 4.48 7.08 2.22 6.63 2.22 6.16 7.45 8.90 4.48 6.00 N 4.62 -----31.1 4.68 18.15 8.38 18.5 9.52 9.39 9.52 -----9.27 O 21.10 31.5517.76 16.03 63.41 9.57 42.27 27.18 2.68 -----35.53 21.17 Location

1 2

Blood Face Stomach Pockets (2000 tablets) Blood and pockets Blood Pockets Pockets Pockets Pockets Pocket Pocket

Table 2.Possible Compounds Identity Codeine Cocaine Aspirin Aspartame Vanilla Trinitrotoluene Nitroglycerine Curare Thiobromine Strychnine Dimetacrine Acetaminophen
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Table 3. Personal Data Passengersand Crew Amadeo Oldere Connie Majors Jim LeClaire Archie Starr Bob (Reno) Henderson Lisa Johnson Bill (Cadillac) Jackson Norm Anderson Notes Has a heart condition Pharmacist Baker Teacher, addicted tosugar-free drinks Professional athlete, just suspended for drug violations Environmental engineer, severely depressed Suspected drug dealer Suspected leader of a terrorist organization

Formula...