How Can I Tell If Something Is Made of Brass?
Last Updated Mar 26, 2020 11:29:54 PM ET
To tell if something is brass, clean a section of the metal, check its color and test whether a magnet sticks to the object. Brass has a distinct, bright gold color, and because it isn't ferromagnetic, it doesn't attract magnets.
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc that typically contains 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc, although different types of brass contain different ratios of metals. Red brass has a higher copper content and yellow brass has a higher zinc content. The alloy is more malleable than pure copper or zinc, which makes it easier to cast and machine. The bacteriostatic properties of brass make it a popular choice for fixtures in bathrooms and health facilities.
More From Reference
What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment?
What Does George Soros' Open Society Foundations Network Fund?
The History of the United States' Golden Presidential Dollars
How the COVID-19 Pandemic Has Changed Schools and Education in Lasting Ways
Fact Check: Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe?
How Does the 25th Amendment Work — and When Should It Be Enacted?