Which type of black discoloration on the skin from a gunshot wound can be wiped off?

The correct answer, blackening, refers to the phenomenon caused by the deposition of unburned gunpowder particles and other residues from a firearm discharge. This black discoloration appears around the entry wound and is usually superficial. Since it primarily consists of external material on the skin, it can be wiped off without difficulty, leaving the underlying skin intact.

Tattooing, in contrast, occurs when particles from the gunpowder penetrate the skin, resulting in permanent marks that cannot be wiped away. Charring is associated with the burning of the skin due to a close-range shot and leads to a more severe form of injury that is not removable. Scarring represents the aftermath of the healing process from a wound and is also not removable. Therefore, blackening is distinctive in its temporary nature, distinguishing it from the more permanent changes associated with the other conditions.