CHEMISTRYDecember 11, 2014

MURDER MYSTERY

MURDER IN THE HOUSE?

CASE

• During the Annual Winter Dance, Mr. Sodium exploded and three of the other guests have disappeared at the Periodic Manor House. A light was smashed just before the murder occurred and caused all the lights to go out so nobody saw what happened!

NAME OF GUESTS

• Mr. Carbon, Mr. Sodium, Reverend Copper, Mr. Helium, Mr. Chlorine, Mrs. Chlorine, Dr. Neon, Sir Mercury, Mr. Oxygen, Mrs. Oxygen, Mr. Iron, Professor Plutonium, Mr. Hydrogen, and Mrs. Hydrogen

TASK

• Read the attached evidence file for each element. Key properties that may tie the element to the murder have been gathered. Also, each element has provided oral testimony to what they saw that night.

ANNOTATING

MR. CARBONProperties:• Black and dull• Conducts electricity• Creates Carbon Dioxide (will suffocate people) when burnt with

Oxygen

Interview Summary:• Saw a bright flash and sparks when the lights went out.• Heard a ringing sound just before the light went out. • Saw a black powder near the smashed light. The black powder

is still warm to the touch.

MRS. OXYGENProperties:• Gas• React explosively with the element hydrogen when heat is

added. By products are fire and water (H2O). • Will also react with most metals and change their color• Interview Summary:• Came to the party with Mr. Oxygen, who seems to be missing.• Tried to pull Mr. Oxygen away from the dance floor to prevent

the Reverend Copper from dancing into them.

REVEREND COPPER

Properties:• Shiny and orange• Conducts electricity very well• Make a ringing sound when hit• Flashes green and turns black when burnt with oxygen

Interview Summary:• Had a great time at the party. Really enjoyed the

smashing drinks. • Not sure why hands are hurting and bleeding.

MR. HELIUM

Properties:• Gas• Quite non-reactive• Glows bright orange when in contact with electricity• Interview Summary:• Best friends with Mr. Sodium and is very upset that Mr.

Sodium has exploded. • Very well familiar with the fact that Mr. Sodium hates water. • Notice Mr. Hydrogen standing next to his wife.

MR. AND MRS. CHLORINE

Properties:• Green toxic gas• Very reactive with some metals• Interview Summary:• Mr. Sodium was constantly trying to separate Mrs.

Chlorine from Mr. Chlorine. • Noticed that Mrs. Hydrogen was talking to Mr.

Oxygen.

DR. NEON

Properties:• Unreactive gas• Glows red when electrified• Interview Summary• As a Doctor, Dr. Neon is very familiar with this type of

death. • Obviously Mr. Sodium had drank some water (or came

into close contact). Not sure why Mr. Sodium did this because he is deathly allergic to water.

SIR MERCURYProperties:• Liquid metal• Toxic• Heavy• Conducts electricity Interview Summary:• Saw two fireballs. Once before Mr. Sodium burst into flames and one

when Mr. Sodium burst into flame. • Noticed that Mr. Iron is also turning a shade of orange. • Noticed that Reverend Copper looks a little bit darker when the light

came back on.

MR. SODIUM

Properties:• Silvery white• React violently with water and may burst into flame and

form an alkali (feels soapy)• Create a bright orange flame• Reacts with the Halogens group (Group 17) to form

sodium halides

What you saw at the party:• No interview. This is one of the victims.

MR. IRON

Properties:• Dull grey• Conducts electricity• Goes rusty orange in the presence of water and oxygen• Heavy Interview Summary• Shortly after the murder Mr. Iron started to rust, the air

must have been damp.• Noticed a puddle of liquid near Mr. Sodium that feels soapy.

PROFESSOR PLUTONIUMProperties:• Radioactive• Unstable• Conducts electricity• Very heavy

Interview Summary:• Saw a fireball, just like the one hydrogen makes when it

explodes. • But this should not kill Mr. Sodium.• Something else must have happened.

IDENTIFY THE VICTIMS

• WHO ARE THE 4 VICTIMS?– WHO EXPLODED?– WHO ARE THE 3 PEOPLE MISSING?

ACCIDENT OR MURDER

• DETERMINE IF THE DEATH WAS AN ACCIDENT OR MURDER?

HOW?

• HOW DID EACH VICTIM DIED?

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

• In your investigative report, you must make a CLAIM on whether or not the death was an accident and provide evidence to support your claim. Your investigative report must include the following:– Accidental death or murder?– Victim names– Who killed the victims?– How did the death occur?

• CHECK AGAINST THE RUBRIC

SENTENCE STARTERS• CLAIM (EXAMPLES)– THE VICTIMS DIED DUE TO AN ACCIDENT.– THE VICTIMS WERE MURDERED

• EVIDENCE (EXAMPLES)– ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE FILE….– IN THE INTERVIEW WITH DR. NEON….

• EXPLANATION (EXAMPLES)– BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, THE FIRST VICTIM DIED– THE EVIDENCE CLEARLY SUPPORT THAT THE FIRST

VICTIM DIED …..