Metal

Three simple ways of narrowing down type of metal are:

  • whether it is magnetic or not,
  • its colour and
  • the colour or type of corrosion.

Clues:  Magnetic

Magnetic (ferrous) Non-magnetic (non-ferrous)
Wrought iron
Cast iron
Steel
Copper
Lead
Silver
Aluminium

Clues:  Colour

Colour Metals
Yellow/Gold/Pink Gold
Copper
Brass (copper and zinc)
Bronze (copper and tin)
Nickel silver (copper, zinc, nickel)
Silvery with marks Silver
Pewter (tin and lead)
Nickel silver
Britannia metal (EPBM) (tin and antimony)
Silver-grey without identification marks Lead
Zinc
Aluminium

Clues: Corrosion

Colour Metal
Rust - red Iron
Green Copper
Bronze
Brass
Tarnish Silver
White Aluminium
Powdery white Lead

Resource:  SHCG’s Object Lessons: Metal resource is a really useful starting point to learn how to identify metals.

Also search on firstBASE for metals to find more resources to take your knowledge further.