If you work in a scientific or industrial setting or are interested in the natural world, knowing how to identify various metals can be useful.If you want to identify a sample of an unknown metal, you should always hold a magnet up to it.Steel, iron, or another type of ferrous metal is the most likely attraction.Simple tests can be conducted to narrow down the properties of a metal once you've done that.
Step 1: If you study the properties of your sample, you'll know if it's a metal.
It is easy to mistake nonmetal minerals for metals.Keep in mind that metals are strong, dense, and malleable and can have some degree of luster or shine.Nonmetal minerals are lightweight and brittle, with a dull finish.Try using a hammer to tap your sample.Nonmetal minerals are harder to break than metals.Nonmetal minerals don't transfer heat or electricity well.One way to test the conductivity of a mineral is to place it in a circuit with a battery pack on one end and an electric bell or light bulb on the other.If your sample is a metal, the electricity will travel through it to the bell or bulb.
Step 2: If you hold a magnet up to the metal, it will tell you if it is ferrous or nonferrous.
The metal you are trying to identify is most likely ferrous.ferrous and nonferrous metals are both non-magnetic.raw iron, carbon steel, pure nickel, and various iron alloys are ferrous metals.Nonferrous metals include lead, aluminum, nickel, copper, brass, titanium, and zinc.
Step 3: To gauge the metal's hardness, file a section of it.
Run a carbon steel file over the sample.It is too hard for the file to leave a mark if it slides easily over the metal.It is most likely a softer type, such as copper or lead, if the file bites into the metal or shaves off small pieces.Lead, aluminum, magnesium, and alkali metals are soft and can be cut with a knife.It can be hard to leave a scratch on harder metals.
Step 4: Feel for a difference in weight.
Pick up the sample metals that you can't tell apart and compare how they feel in your hand.Lead will be heavier than iron, and it will have more heft than tin or aluminum.It is important that your samples are close in size in order to compare their weight.
Step 5: If you want to find the metal's exact hardness, run a Rockwell Hardness Test.
The Rockwell Hardness Test is the most accurate and consistent way to test a metal's hardness.Load your sample into a Rockwell Hardness Test machine, which will make a pair of indentations in the same site along the sample's surface using a sharp test point.The deeper the final indentation, the softer the metal is.The machine will generate a numerical Hardness Rating for your sample once the test is over.To find out what type of metal your sample is most likely to be, compare this number to a chart listing the ratings of various metals.A rating of 25 on the B scale corresponds to aluminum.The Brinell Hardness Test is a type of test.The basic principle is the same, but this version uses a rounded metal test point.
Step 6: If you are an experienced welder or technician, you should do a spark test.
A steady stream of sparks can be created by holding a piece of scrap metal against an automated grinder.To determine the type of metal that produced the sparks, look at their length, shape, and color.The sparks from high-carbon steel are pure white and form erratic branching patterns, while the ones from wrought iron have long, straight shafts and burn a bright yellow-white.Other metals have their own spark profiles that can help in identification.If you have access to the necessary equipment and experience working with different metals, a quick spark test can tell you almost everything you need to know.Before you begin grinding your test metal, make sure to wear a pair of welding gloves and goggles to protect yourself from flying sparks.
Step 7: nitric acid can be used to test for gold or silver.
The eyedropper should be filled with a small amount of pure nitric acid.Wait a few seconds and apply 1-2 drops of acid after you file down a small, out-of-the-way spot on your metal.Real gold won't react to the acid, while real silver will turn a creamy white.The exposed area is most likely a different type of metal.You can buy nitric acid from laboratory supply stores.Not all of the glitter is gold.A metal that looks like gold could be any of the following: brass, pyrite, or something else.When exposed to the elements, silver tarnishes, creating a finish similar to brass.
Step 8: There is a deep gray color of iron.
Iron has a dark gray hue throughout.Pure and minimally-processed iron can look dingy or brown.The structure of iron when broken or filed is anangular.If your sample has not been processed or blended with other metals, this is even more true.Iron can be found in items like household fixtures, tools, electric motors, and old-fashioned furniture and appliances.The hardness rating of cast iron is 86.
Step 9: The silver shine of the steel is characteristic.
The bright, pale-gray color of the steel gleams in the light.Depending on how it has been treated, it may be reflective.The dull silver tone of the steel is almost always the same.There is a good chance that the metal you have is either tin or aluminum.cookware, eating utensils, household appliances, building materials, and storage containers are all made of galvanized steel.The hardness rating of the steel is 88.
Step 10: Pay attention to the reddish tint.
If your sample is particularly old, it may appear more brown because of its distinctive red-orange color.It is the same metal that is used to coat pennies.If you don't know if the metal you have is copper, put it outside for a few days.As copper oxidizes, it turns green.copper is a go-to metal for manufacturers of pipes, electrical wires, roofing materials, and internal components for computers and other electronics.The rating of copper is 10.
Step 11: To differentiate brass and bronze, look for a yellow hue.
It is possible that your metal is either brass or bronze.Both of these metals look similar to copper.They usually have a golden or hay cast.Bronze has a higher proportion of copper than brass.Musical instruments, pipe fitting, and manifolds are all made with brass and bronze.The HRC of bronze can range from 42 to 78, while brass can be between 55 and 65.
Step 12: Its deep gray color, weight, and softness make it a single out lead.
Lead has a dull, washed-out finish and is a lot like silver.It is heavy for its size and soft enough to rub off on other objects.Try dragging the metal against the paper.It is likely lead if it leaves a streak.You can get a lead testing kit from your local hardware store if you want to find out if a metal is lead.When lead is detected, most kits display a red or pink color.It is a good idea to wear gloves when handling metal that you think may be lead.Lead can still be found in some industrial materials, such as electrical sheathing and car batteries.It used to be a popular ingredient in everything from toys to interior paint.Lead has a Hardness Rating of 5.
Step 13: You can learn to recognize aluminum by its light weight and pale color.
The light gray color of aluminum is not as bright as silver or lead.It can be difficult to distinguish it from other silvery metals.One of the lightest metals is aluminum.A magnet won't stick to aluminum because it is nonferrous.The characteristic of aluminum is that it doesn't rust.Leave your metal outside for a while if all else fails.You should look for traces of red or brown when you come back to collect it.Mailboxes, ladders, trash cans, metal fencing, bicycle frames, staplers, and hubcaps are all made from aluminum, which is lightweight and holds its shape well when molded.Depending on how it is processed and whether it's combined with other metals, aluminum has a variable Hardness Rating of 20-40.
Step 14: To identify titanium, compare it to other gray-colored metals.
Titanium is lighter and shinier than lead.It won't have an attraction to the strongest magnets because it's nonferrous.You won't be able to scratch it with a file since it's so hard.It's important to inspect your metal for grade markings.The titanium may be stamped with a string of numbers and letters.Titanium is prized for its high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes it a perfect addition to building materials, aircraft components, golf clubs, jewelry, eyeglass frames, and even artificial hip and knee joints.Titanium has a hardness rating of 80, coming in behind cast iron and stainless steel.