system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[General Sci-Fi] A silicon based life form found its way in a small town, can the high-school science teacher understand its nature?

I hope this doesn't break the rules, otherwise, please feel free to mark it down.

Anyway, I'm the master in a role playing campaign set in modern times, the players just found some traces of a silicon based organism, they don't know it yet and (being highschoolers in the game) they want to show it to their science teacher.

Can the teacher reveal the nature, and if yes how?

Is it possible within the means of a small town school budget to at least have a glimpse of its nature?

Thanks!
gpt
Of course! The science teacher in question has a shady past, being posted at a military facility with a number instead of a name. She's seen this sort of thing before.

The test you're looking for is referred to as *Qualitative Chemical Analysis.* Basically, discerning the chemical composition of an unknown sample. This can be as simple as setting the sample on fire (which a high school science teacher can do) or as complex as looking at the sample under a scanning electron microscope. (Which would be a bit outside a high school's budget)

Depending on how competent/ nerdy / well informed the teacher in question is, it is perfectly believable for them to identify the sample in question as silicon and extra terrestrial in origin.