Which solvent is known to cause the greatest damage to inks in ninhydrin solutions?

The solvent known to cause the greatest damage to inks in ninhydrin solutions is a mix of acetone, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol. These solvents are particularly effective at breaking down the chemical structure of many inks due to their potent solvent properties. Acetone is a highly volatile solvent that can quickly evaporate and interact with various organic compounds, effectively dissolving them. Methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol are also strong solvents that can extract and disrupt the components found in inks, including dyes and pigments.

In the context of ninhydrin solutions, which are used for developing latent fingerprints, the interaction with these solvents can lead to the degradation of the ink, making it difficult to recover or analyze prints when these solvents are used. This is especially critical in forensic investigations where the integrity of evidence must be maintained, and any damage to inks can compromise the analysis of the prints.

Other solvents mentioned, such as Freon 113, petroleum ether, and water, either have less aggressive solvent properties or operate under different chemical principles, making them less damaging to inks compared to the mixture of acetone, methyl alcohol, and ethyl alcohol.