How to tell copper from brass?

Copper and brass are very common metals that have found many uses. From these materials, various things can be made that are used in the household: valves for the pipeline, tools, equipment, etc.

But unfortunately, not everyone knows how to correctly distinguish these two materials... The thing is that they are quite similar, but they have a difference, and it is significant. If you want to learn how to understand where is copper and where is cheaper brass, this article is for you.

Copper is a non-ferrous metal. It is characterized by a reddish, but rather, golden-pink hue. People have discovered and used it since ancient times for the manufacture of tools, jewelry, weapons, dishes, so now the deposits are depleted, as a result of which the metal has become quite expensive.

This is a very soft material from which absolutely any detail can be made when heated. One of its main advantages is its excellent thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. This property allows the use of copper parts in various heating and electrical appliances.

Brass is an alloy that is also quite ancient. It is obtained by mixing copper and zinc. It also contains tin, manganese and lead. The people who lived in the southern Black Sea region made it without knowing the chemical elements, but quite successfully even before our era.

For the production of brass, only recyclable materials are used. The color of the material can be different, it all depends on the components that make up the alloy.

Considering the fact that brass contains copper, we can conclude that these two metals still have similarities... They are similar to each other visually and in some physicochemical properties.

Distinguishing copper from brass is not that difficult. This can be done even at home. All that is needed for this is to possess the minimum amount of information about these metals.

So, to distinguish copper from brass, you need to pay attention to a number of parameters.

Earlier we talked about how it can be different or similar. That is why it is more difficult to distinguish materials on this basis than on other parameters. But be that as it may, even if the products are similar in color, remember: copper will always have a brighter red or brown color, while brass has a golden or yellow color scheme.

This is one of the most affordable and reliable methods of determination at home. To do this, it is enough to hit the tested object with something metallic. Copper will make a muffled and low sound, but brass, on the contrary, sounds loud.

To do this, you need to try to bend the product. The thing is that copper is plastic. A product made of it can be bent without breaking. As for brass, then this alloy is quite hard, so it is unlikely to be able to bend it.

Absolutely on any metal, be it gold, silver or copper and brass, there is always a manufacturer's marking. This information will help to accurately identify the metal. If the marking of the product begins with the letter "M", then it is made of copper, if you see the letter "L" - this is an alloy. But here it is imperative to take into account the country of the manufacturer. The thing is that everyone has their own markings. For example, the USA and Canada mark brass products with the letters C2, C3, C4, everything else is copper. If the product is made in one of the European countries, then you need to pay attention not to the first letter of the marking - in both cases it will be C2. It's all about the letters that follow the first. Copper is designated by the letters A, B, C, D, and the letters L, M, N, P, R are designated on the alloy product. Some products may have a chemical element sign, which indicates that there are other components in the composition. Very often on products made of brass, you can see the Zn sign - zinc.

Due to the fact that brass contains zinc, copper is much heavier than it.

To apply this method in the process of distinguishing copper and brass, you will need a special drill for working with metal products or a machine for obtaining shavings. But this method is one of the most accurate, so you need to talk about it. Brass shavings, due to the fact that the material is quite hard and dense, very sharp, needle-like and crumbles into small pieces when cutting, and metal, on the contrary, due to the plasticity of the product, is thin and uniform, similar to an apple peel.

In this case, everything depends on the technical parameters and characteristics of the products. Copper, like a metal, is used in electrical wires, radio equipment, as it is an excellent conductor. Due to its strength, brass is used to make equipment and tools.

Some may use a magnet to check. But we can assure you that it will not help you in any way. Both copper and brass are attracted to the magnet.

Sometimes, in order to get an accurate and believable result, you need to use different reagents, analyzers or acid. Let's take a look at a few of these detection methods.

1. Acidic environment. This option assumes the use of acid in the analysis process. This chemical method should be carried out exclusively in specialized laboratories, as it is considered quite dangerous.So, if a certain amount of acid is applied to the surface of the tested object, then if the product is made of copper, no chemical reaction will occur. If it is brass, a white coating will appear on the surface of the product, which indicates that there is zinc in the metal.
2. Using analyzers. This is equipment with which you can determine the parameters of the investigated product, and already from them find out what exactly is in front of you.
3. Application of high temperatures. It must be said right away that the method can only be carried out in specialized laboratories, and it is also relevant if you need to melt the material. It is the action of high temperature that can accurately determine the type of metal. To melt brass, a very high temperature is needed, and for copper, a low temperature is enough.

You can find out how to distinguish between metals below.