AFTE Store - Potassium Iodide: A Modified Microcrystal Test for Lead

The objective of this project was to determine if a microcrystalline test for lead is a viable method for detecting lead in various firearm related scenarios. Positive aspects of using a potassium iodide microcrystalline test is that the equipment needed is not expensive and can be found in most labs and few reagents are needed. Only the sample, Nitric Acid (HNO3), deionized water and Potassium Iodide (KI) are used. A positive test for lead results in the formation of yellow hexagonal crystals. Positive test results for the presence of lead were obtained from each type of sample.