Testing for asbestos using readily available chemicals and tools? Given that it is difficult to determine who is telling the truth in the recent claim that J&amp;J covered up finding asbestos in their powder, is there any chemical test that we can perform on our own to determine with reasonable confidence whether the particular sample of powder we have bought contains asbestos? (I am aware that one test involves viewing the sample under a sufficiently high-powered polarizing light microscope, but not everyone has such a tool.)
I have not much chemistry background beyond high-school, and it seems that there are numerous kinds of asbestos, apparently characterized more by their large aspect ratio than by their chemical composition. For example, chrysotile (which accounts for ≈95% of asbestos in buildings in the US) has an idealized chemical formula $\ce{Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4}$, but may not even occur as exactly that. Talc according to wikipedia is either $\ce{H2Mg3(SiO3)4}$ or $\ce{Mg3Si4O10(OH)2}$. These break down as follows:

Chrysotile: $\ce{(Mg^2+)3[Si2O5]^2−([OH]^−)4}$
Talc A: $\ce{(H+)2(Mg^2+)3([SiO3]^2+)4}$
Talc B: $\ce{(Mg^2+)3[Si4O10]^4−([OH]^−)2}$

So we cannot test for $\ce{Mg^2+}$ or $\ce{[OH]^−}$. But is there a chemical test for $\ce{[Si2O5]^2−}$ that can be done at home? And is it safe to rule out chrysotile if no $\ce{[Si2O5]^2−}$ can be detected, or can the amount be too low for chemical detection but still dangerous?
Is there a chemical test for $\ce{[Si2O5]^2−}$ that can be done at home?


First $\ce{[Si2O5]^2−}$ isn't a poly atomic ion like sulfate ($\ce{SO4-}$) or nitrate ($\ce{NO3}$) but represents a stoichiometry in the material.

Unfortunately at this time a test without x-ray diffraction is not possible. Asbestos/chrystolite is not just a chemical formula, but a crystal structure. It's not just what it is made of but also how the atoms are structured that makes it potently carcinogenic. If you were to take asbestos and melt it then cool it sufficiently fast to form a glass (amorphous/non-crystalline substance), it would not have similar carcinogenic properties as the crystalline material.


  I am aware that one test involves viewing the sample under a sufficiently high-powered polarizing light microscope, but not everyone has such a tool.


It is worth noting that using polarized can be done at home with polarized filters but is a presumtive test not a direct method. Essentially all chrystolite will rotate light but not all minerals that rotate light are chrystolite.