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[Steve_86]

I have Piracetam from two different sources. One is more crystalline (shiny) and the other is less crystalline and much whiter in colour.

What could this mean? Is one contaminated? or does the appearance vary according to the manufacturing process or something?

[niner]

I have Piracetam from two different sources. One is more crystalline (shiny) and the other is less crystalline and much whiter in colour.

What could this mean? Is one contaminated? or does the appearance vary according to the manufacturing process or something?

It might mean nothing. If a colorless, transparent crystal is crushed, it will look white. Some compounds are capable of crystallizing in two different forms, called polymorphs. These might look different but are chemically the same. The amount of water in the sample can change the appearance too. None of this means that the samples you have are not in fact chemically different, but at least there are legitimate ways for the difference in appearance to arise.