powder lab

question(s)
what are the methods that are used by forensic scientist to determine the nature of and unknown substance (like white powder)? how might this lab might prep you for this mission?
well i can to an extent answer the first question but it will be hazy, we could be using different methods by adding substances to the powders, and heating them up, but still we could be useing the exscat same methouds, i don't know.
this could prep us for our misson because we could find some kind of white powder on the scene that we need to identfy.