If you work in a scientific or industrial setting or are curious about 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 after you've done that.
Step 1: Determine if it's a metal by studying the properties of your sample.
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 hitting the sample with a hammer.Nonmetal minerals are harder to break than metals.Nonmetal minerals are not conductors because they 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 a 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 attempting to identify is most likely ferrous.ferrous and nonferrous metals are both non-magnetic.raw iron, carbon steel, pure nickel, and various iron alloy 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.
Take a carbon steel file and run it 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 between the metals.
Pick up the sample metals 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: To find the metal's exact hardness, run a Rockwell Hardness Test.
The Rockwell Hardness Test is the most accurate and consistent method of testing the hardness of a metal.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 after 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 another 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 perform 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 know how to work with different metals, a quick spark test can show you everything you need to know.Before you start 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.
Put a small amount of pure nitric acid in an eyedropper.Wait a few seconds, then apply 1-2 drops of acid, and file down a small, out-of-the-way spot on your metal.Real gold will not 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 moderate or dark gray hue throughout.Pure and minimally-processed iron can look dingy or brown.The structure of iron when it is broken or filed is anangular.If your sample has not been processed or blended with other metals, this is especially true.Old-fashioned furniture and appliances can often contain some percentage of iron.The Cast iron has a hardness rating of 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 ofstainless 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 from galvanized steel.The hardness rating of the steel is 88.
Step 10: Pay attention to a reddish tint.
If your sample is particularly old, it may appear more brown because of the distinctive red-orange color.It is the same metal that is used to coat pennies in the U.S.If you don't know if the metal you have is copper, put it outside for a few days.As copper oxidizes, it becomes 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: There is a yellow hue to differentiate brass and bronze.
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 the Rockwell Hardness Rating for brass is between 55 and 65.
Step 12: Its deep gray color and weight 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.You can drag the edge of your metal against the paper.It is likely lead if it leaves a streak.You can get a lead testing kit at your local hardware store if you want to find out if a metal is lead.Most kits show a red or pink color when lead is detected.It is a good idea to wear gloves when handling metal that you think may be lead, as it is highly toxic.Lead can still be found in some industrial materials, such as electrical sheathing, car batteries, and soundproofing, even though it's not as common as it used to be.It was a popular ingredient in toys in the past.Lead has a Hardness Rating of 5.
Step 13: You can learn to recognize aluminum by its light weight and pale color.
Most of the time, aluminum is a very light gray color.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.It doesn't rust, which is a remarkable characteristic of aluminum.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.
Step 14: To identify titanium, compare it to other gray-colored metals.
Titanium is lighter and more shiny than lead.Unlike most metals, it won't have an attraction to the strongest magnets.You won't be able to scratch it with a file since it's extremely 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.