still wondering just *how* they identify mysterious white powders that might be very lethal
I can imagine that they'll have some field test kit to check what kind of substance they're dealing with. Chemical composition can be determined with a gas chromatograph and (assuming they can build them small enough for mobile use these days) a mass spectrometer. Not sure what kind of testing equipment exists for biological compounds.
As for powdery substances that might be explosives, for that we have the Burning Match Test. Open a box that contains the powdery substance, light a match, and throw it into the box. If the box/substance goes "BOOOOOM!!!!!", then you have found an explosive substance. <GRIN>
Unfortunately, you'll have destroyed the evidence in the process... <GRIN>
Jeroen "Giorgis Delenda Est" van Baardwijk
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