Collectively
known as "The Red Metals," copper, brass, and bronze
are quite different from one another and can be difficult to tell apart if you
don't work with them every day. Therefore, here are some facts about these
three metals that can help you tell the difference:
Copper
A fantastic conductor of electricity and heat, copper is most commonly used in
electrical wiring and plumbing. The metal has a brownish red finish and is very
flexible and adaptable. It can be heated and stretched and readily tolerates
being soldered. Copper is not at all magnetic and has antibacterial properties
that have historically been used to purify water. This metal is pure and is not
an alloy.
Brass
Brass is an alloy made from adding zinc and other elements to copper. The
elements added to brass give it its color, so it can be any hue from red to
yellow. Because it often looks like gold, brass is a popular choice for
plumbing fixtures, door knockers, and other accents. It is slightly magnetic,
but it takes a very powerful magnet to attract it. Brass is not as durable as
copper and can corrode or crack.
Bronze
Like brass, bronze is an alloy that starts with copper. Instead of adding zinc,
metallurgists add tin, arsenic, phosphorus, aluminum, manganese, or silicon to
create bronze. These additions make bronze stronger than copper. It can't be
flexed, but it does withstand corrosion extremely well, which is why it is used
in ships and musical instruments. Like brass it is somewhat like gold in color,
but bronze contains small rings that brass does not.
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