The Strange Case of Mole Airlines Flight 1023
Instructions for submission
(50% of grade) - Complete and submit as a table group (4 people)
- Identify the 8 passengers and solve the murder mystery
- Electronically submit ONE activity packet per table group via Infinite Campus.
(50% of grade) - Complete and submit as an individual
- Each group member must submit their work and calculations for TWO passengers
(submit as paper copies). There are 8 passengers in total, so each group member is
responsible for 2 passengers.
- For full credit, I need to see your answers and your work that shows HOW you arrived
at your answers.
The story
At 6:02:21 a.m. mole airlines flight 1023 radioed that they were making an emergency
landing after a commotion in the cabin. However, shortly after radioing in the situation,
the plane crashed. You and your team of medical examiners are called to the scene of
a plane crash. You find evidence of a pre-crash explosion. A section of the plane has
been blown apart by an explosion. It appears as if the explosion happened before the
crash.
Residue from the explosion site shows the following elemental analysis: 16.22%
carbon, 2.72% hydrogen, 37.84% nitrogen, and 43.22% oxygen
Eight victims are found at the scene, but none are identifiable by witnesses, dental
records, or DNA evidence. You find evidence suggesting that the commotion radioed
in before the crash was a passenger being murdered. The flight manifest shows the
names and some information about the victims. You must use the available tools and
information to identify each victim. You must also solve the murder mystery.
Step 1: Find the empirical formula of the chemical used at the
explosion site
Compound number and info Percent Composition Empirical formula
(“Multiply till whole”)
C H N O CH2N2O2
RDX (Research
% Composition 16.22% 2.72% 37.84% 43.22% Dept. Explosive)
“% to mass” (assume 100g 16.22g 2.72g 37.84g 43.22g
total)
“Mass to moles” (keep 4 s.f.) 1.351mol 2.693mol 2.701mol 2.701mol
“Divide by small” 1mol 1.99mol 1.99mol 1.99mol
Table 1. Flight Manifest Information
Name Information about the person
Sharon Turner Pharmacist with chronic back pain
Sky Chesterson science teacher addicted to Diet Coke
Brian Skete Sweet tooth and ADHD
Karla Baker Sleep deprived with a heart condition
Charles Dunlap Baker who loves bread
Jason Uitz Loves chocolate. Suffers from clinical
depression
Charisa Morton Suspected drug dealer and addict
Tommy Zumpela Civil engineer specializing in demolition
Table 2. Crime scene information
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger
enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
C H N O “Multiply till Charis Morton
whole” because she
is a suspected
Pockets 80.48% 10.13% 9.386% 0.000% C10H15N drug dealer
and addict.
-Methamphetamine There was
“% ---> mass” 80.48g 10.13g 9.386g 0g Methampheta
1 -Illegal stimulant -mine found in
drug her pockets
“Mass → moles” 6.701 10.03 0.6700 0 mols and Cocaine
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mol found in her
blood.
“Divide by small” 10 mols 15 mols 1 mol 0 mols
Blood 67.31% 6.978% 4.617% 21.10% C17H21NO4
-Cocaine
“% ---> mass” 67.31g 6.978g 4.617g 21.10g
- Narcotic,
“Mass → moles” 5.604 6.909 0.3296 1.319 illegal
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mol mols
“Divide by small” 17 mols 21 mols 1 mol 4 mols
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger
enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
C H N O “Multiply till Sharon
whole” Turner
because she
In Pockets 75.69% 8.795% 0.000% 15.51% C13H18O2 has chronic
back pains
-Ibuprofen and Ibuprofen
“% ---> mass” 75.69g 8.795g 0g 15.52g -Over the
was found in
2 her pocket
counter muscle which is a
“Mass → moles” 6.302 8.708 0 mols 0.9694 painkiller and
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mols relaxer and Hydrocodone
“Divide by small” 6.5 9 mols 0 mols 1 mol was found in
mols painkiller her blood
which is also
In Blood 72.22% 7.071% 4.679% 16.03% C18H21NO3 a painkiller.
-Hydrocodone
“% ---> mass” 72.22g 7.071g 4.679g 16.03g
- Painkiller,
prescription
“Mass → moles” 6.013 7.001 0.3340 1.002
(keep 4 s.f.) mols mols mols mols controlled
“Divide by small” 18 mols 21 mols 1 mol 3 mols
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger
enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
C H N O “Multiply till Passenger
whole” Identity -
Karla Baker
In Blood 15.87% 2.219% 18.50% 63.41% C3H5N3O9
She is sleep
-Nitroglycerin deprived with
“% ---> mass” 15.87g 2.219g 18.50g 63.41g a heart
3 -Heart Medication condition
“Mass → moles” 1.321 2.197 1.320 3.963
(keep 4 s.f.)
“Divide by small” 1 1.664 1 3.002
In Blood 49.48% 5.190% 28.85% 16.48% C4H5N2O
-Caffeine
“% ---> mass” 49.48g 5.190g 28.85 16.48g
-Stimulant found
in coffee
“Mass → moles” 4.120 5.139 2.059 1.030
(keep 4 s.f.)
“Divide by small” 4 4.989 1.999 1
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger
enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
C H N O “Multiply till Passenger
whole” Identity -
Jason Uitz
In Blood 76.95% 7.217% 15.84% 0.000% C17H18N3
-Loves
-Mirtazapine chocolate.
“% ---> mass” 76.95g 7.217g 15.84g 0.000g Suffered from
4 -Prescription clinical
antidepressant depression.
“Mass → moles” 6.407 7.146 1.131 0 Mol O
(keep 4 s.f.) Mol C Mol H Mol N
“Divide by small” 5.664 6.318 1 Mol N 0 Mol O
Mol C Mol H
In Stomach 46.67% 4.476% 31.10% 17.76% C7H8N4O2
-Theobromine
“% ---> mass” 46.67g 4.476g 31.10g 17.76g
-A heart stimulant
found naturally in
“Mass → moles” 3.886 4.432 2.220 1.110 chocolate
(keep 4 s.f.) Mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O
“Divide by small” 3.501 4 Mol H 2 Mol N 1 Mol O
Mol C
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical Passenger
enge number and info formula and Identity and
r compound explanation
name why
C H N O “Multiply till Brian Skete
whole” because there
is ADHD
In Blood 79.95% 9.691% 10.36% 0.000% C9 H13N medication is
in the blood,
Amphetamine sugar is in the
“% ---> mass” 79.95g 9.691g 10.36g 0.000g stomach, and
5 -ADHD he has ADHD
medication and a sweet
“Mass → moles” 6.657 9.59 0.7395 0.000 tooth.
(keep 4 s.f.) mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O
“Divide by small” 9.00 12.97 1 Mol N 0.000
molC Mol H Mol O
In Stomach 42.11% 6.478% 0.000% 51.42% CH2O
“% ---> mass” 42.11g 6.478g 0.000g 51.42g
C12H22O11
“Mass → moles” 3.506 6.414 0.000 3.214 Sucrose
(keep 4 s.f.) mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O
-Table Sugar
“Divide by small” 1mol 2mol 0mol 1mol
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical Passenger
enge number and info formula and Identity and
r compound explanation
name why
C H N O “Multiply till This
whole” passenger is
Tommy
In Pockets 16.22% 2.723% 37.84% 43.22% CH2N2O2 Zumpela
because there
RDX (Research was
“% ---> mass” 16.22g 2.723g 37.84g 43.22g Dept. Explosive) explosives in
6 his pocket
Major ingredient and he is a
“Mass → moles” 1.351 2.696 2.701 2.701 in C-4 demolition
mol C mol H mol explosives specialist,
which means
“Divide by small” 1 mol C 1.99 1.99 1.99 mol that he
mol H mol N O specialises in
blowing up
In Pockets 69.12% 7.859% 5.200% 17.82% C31H42N2O6 and breaking
down
buildings.
“% ---> mass” 69.12g 7.859g 5.200g 17.82g
Batrachotoxin
Poison used on
“Mass → moles” 5.755 7.781 0.3714 1.114
darts
mol C Mol H Mol N Mol O
“Divide by small” 15.50 20.95 1 mol N 2.99
Mol C Mol H Mol O
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger
enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
C H N O “Multiply till This
whole” passenger is
Charles
In Stomach 41.09% 6.897% 19.17% 32.84% C5H10N2O3 Dunlap, he’s a
Baker who
“% ---> mass” 41.09g 6.897g 19.17g 32.84g Glutamine loves bread.
There was
7 A protein found in Gluten found
“Mass → moles” 3.421m 6.829m 1.368m 2.053m wheat or Gluten in his stomach
(keep 4 s.f.) ol ol ol ol which relates
to his love for
“Divide by small” 2.501m 4.99mol 1mol 1.501m bread and
ol ol vanilla in his
pocket which
In Pockets 63.15% 5.3 % 0% 31.55% C8H8O3 connects with
him being a
Vanilla baker.
“% ---> mass” 63.15g 5.3g 0g 31.55g
Flavoring
“Mass → moles” 5.258m 5.248m 0mol 1.972m
(keep 4 s.f.) ol ol ol
“Divide by small” 2.666m 2.661m 0mol 1mol
ol ol
Pass Compound Percent Composition Empirical formula Passenger
enge number and info and compound Identity and
r name explanation
why
C H N O “Multiply till This
whole” passenger is
science
In Blood 69.12% 7.859% 5.2% 17.82% C31H42N2O6 teacher, Sky
Chesterson.
Batrachotoxin We found he’s
“% ---> mass” 69.12g 7.859g 5.2g 17.82g addicted to
8 Poison used on Diet Coke
darts from the high
“Mass → moles” 5.755m 7.781m 0.3712 1.114m levels of
ol ol mol ol Aspartame
found in his
“Divide by small” 15.50m 20.96m 1mol 3.001m blood and
ol ol ol was the
murder victim
In Blood 57.14% 6.165% 9.519% 27.18% C14H18N2O5 on the plane
due to the
Aspartame Batrachotoxin
“% ---> mass” 57.14g 6.165g 9.519g 27.18g also found in
Artificial his
sweetener found bloodstream.
“Mass → moles” 4.758m 6.104m 0.6794 1.699m in diet sodas.
ol ol mol ol
“Divide by small” 7.003m 8.984m 1mol 2.501m
ol ol ol
Table 3. Possible Compounds (one will be used twice)
Identity Empirical Formula Molecular Formula Notes/uses
Amphetamine C9H13N same Prescription drug for
treatment of ADHD
Aspartame C14H18N2O5 same Artificial sweetener
found in diet sodas
Batrachotoxin C31H42N2O6 same Poison used on darts.
Caffeine C4H5N2O C8H10N4O2 Stimulant found in
coffee
and many sodas
Cocaine C17H21NO4 same Narcotic, illegal
Glutamine C5H10N2O3 same A protein found in
wheat gluten
Hydrocodone C18H21NO3 same Painkiller,
prescription-
controlled
Ibuprofen C13H18O2 same Over-the-counter
muscle
relaxer and painkiller
Methamphetamine C10H15N same Illegal stimulant drug
Mirtazapine C17H19N3 same Prescription
antidepressant
Nitroglycerine C3H5N3O9 same Explosive and also a
heart medication
RDX (Research CH2N2O2 C3H6N6O6
Dept. Explosive)
Sucrose C12H22O11 same Table sugar
Theobromine C7H8N4O2 same A heart stimulant
found
naturally in chocolate
Vanilla C8H8O3 same flavoring
Conclusion: Solve the murder mystery.
1. Who was the murderer? Who was the murder victim? What was used to murder the
victim? Explain your answers
Tommy Zumpela is the murderer because there were poisoned darts found in his pockets which was
what he used to kill someone before the crash.Sky Chesterson was the murder victim on the plane due to
the Batrachotoxin also found in his bloodstream, the same substance that was found in Tommy
Zumpela’s pockets.
2. According to the evidence, who caused the pre-crash explosion? How do you know?
Tommy Zumpela also caused the explosion. He had the same exact explosives in his pockets that was
used to blow up the plane, and it makes sense because he is used to using explosives being a civil
engineer specializing in demolition.
3. Explain how you and your partners contributed to this project. Which partners
completed which parts?
WL - Passenger 3 & 4
LB - Passenger 5 & 6
AL- Passengers 7&8
JW- Passenger 1&2
