How to distinguish copper from brass?

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

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

Copper belongs to non-ferrous metals. It is characterized by a reddish, but rather a 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 of when heated. One of its main advantages is excellent thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. This property allows the use of copper parts in various heating and electrical appliances.

Brass is an alloy, also quite ancient. It is obtained by mixing copper and zinc. Also included are tin, manganese and lead. The people who lived in the southern Black Sea region made it, not knowing the chemical elements, but quite successfully before our era.

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

Considering the fact that brass is composed of copper, it can be concluded that the similarities between these two metals still exist. They are similar visually and to some physicochemical properties.

Distinguishing copper from brass is not so difficult. This can be done even at home. All that is needed is to have a 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 said that it can both be different and be similar. That is why on this basis it is more difficult to distinguish materials than by 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, and brass is characterized by a golden or yellow color.

This is one of the most affordable and reliable methods for determining at home. To do this, just hit the test object with something metallic. Copper will make a muffled and low sound, but brass, on the contrary, sounds loudly.

To do this, try to bend the product. The thing is that copper is characterized by ductility. The product from it can be bent, and at the same time it will not break. As for brass, then This alloy is quite hard, so it is unlikely to bend it.

Absolutely on any metal, whether it is gold, silver or copper and brass, there is always a marking of the manufacturer. This information will help to accurately determine the metal. If the product’s marking begins with the letter “M”, then it is made of copper, if you see the letter “L” it is an alloy. But here it is necessary to take into account the country of the manufacturer. The thing is that everyone has their own marking. Here, for example, the United States and Canada, brass products are marked with the letters C2, C3, C4, everything else is copper. If the product is manufactured in one of the countries of Europe, then you need to pay attention not to the first letter of the marking - it will be C2 in both cases. It's all about the letters that follow the first. Copper is denoted by the letters A, B, C, D, and on the alloy product the letters L, M, N, P, R are indicated. On some products, there may be a sign of a chemical element, which indicates that there are other components in the composition. Very often on brass products 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 receiving chips. But this method is one of the most accurate, so you need to talk about it. Brass flakes, due to the fact that the material is quite hard and dense, very sharp, needle-like and crumbles into small pieces when sliced, and metal, on the contrary, due to the plasticity of the product, thin and uniform, similar to an apple peel.

In this case, it all depends on the technical parameters and product characteristics. Copper, like metal, is used in electrical wires, radio equipment, as it is an excellent conductor. Because of 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 in any way. Both copper and brass are attracted to the magnet.

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

1. Acidic environment. This option involves 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 you apply a certain amount of acid to the surface of the test 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 the metal contains zinc.
2. Use of analyzers. This equipment, with which you can determine the parameters of the investigated product, and already use them to find out what exactly is in front of you.
3. The use of high temperatures. It must be said right away that the method can only be carried out in specialized laboratories, and it is relevant if you need to melt the material. It is the action of high temperature that can accurately determine the type of metal. For brass to melt, a very high temperature is needed, and for copper it is enough and low.

You can find out below how to distinguish between metals.