What technique is used to develop latent prints using fumes?

The technique used to develop latent prints with the application of fumes is known as cyanoacrylate fuming. This process involves the use of cyanoacrylate, commonly referred to as super glue, which vaporizes when heated. When the fumes come into contact with the moisture and residues present in latent fingerprints, they polymerize and create a visible print.

This method is highly effective because it can develop prints on a variety of surfaces, including plastic, metal, and glass, where other developing methods may not be successful. The resulting prints are usually white or off-white and can then be further enhanced for analysis or photographic documentation.

Other options, while related to various chemical processes in forensic science, do not pertain to the development of latent prints through vapor techniques. For example, carbon fuming involves using carbon particles, which does not yield the development process associated with cyanoacrylate. Thermal fuming and gas chromatography refer to entirely different scientific techniques not associated with fingerprint development.