What is a satisfactory clearing solution for both ninhydrin and silver nitrate stains?

The satisfactory clearing solution for both ninhydrin and silver nitrate stains is indeed household bleach, like Clorox. Ninhydrin is a chemical used to visualize latent fingerprints, resulting in a purple-blue color when it reacts with amino acids in the sweat. Silver nitrate is another common reagent that reacts with the salts in sweat, producing dark brown to black prints.

Household bleach contains sodium hypochlorite, which is a strong oxidizing agent. When using bleach as a clearing solution, it effectively decolorizes and removes any residual stains left from silver nitrate or ninhydrin applications. The ability to clear these stains is essential in forensic work, as it allows for accurate and reliable interpretation of fingerprints without interference from prior chemical treatments.

The other options are not suitable for this purpose. Distilled water may not adequately remove the stains, and while alcohol can work as a solvent for some substances, it does not provide the necessary oxidizing properties to fully clear the ninhydrin and silver nitrate stains. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild oxidizer that may not be as effective as bleach in thoroughly removing these stains. Therefore, household bleach is the optimal choice for clearing both types of stains in a forensic context.