Brass vs. Gold — What's the Difference?

A metal made by combining copper and zinc.

A precious yellow metal, chemical symbol Au.

Often used for decorative purposes because of its shiny, gold-like finish.

Highly valued for use in jewelry and as an investment.

Commonly used in making musical instruments.

Used in electronics due to its excellent electrical conductivity.

Prone to oxidation and tarnishing over time.

Does not corrode, making it ideal for long-lasting jewelry.

Less expensive compared to many other metals.

Available in various colors like white and rose gold when alloyed.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, in proportions which can be varied to achieve varying mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties. It is a substitutional alloy: atoms of the two constituents may replace each other within the same crystal structure.

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from Latin: aurum) and atomic number 79, making it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. In a pure form, it is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal.

A yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes including small amounts of other metals, but usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc.

A yellow precious metal, the chemical element of atomic number 79, used especially in jewellery and decoration and to guarantee the value of currencies.

Ornaments, objects, or utensils made of this alloy.

A deep lustrous yellow or yellow-brown colour

The section of a band or an orchestra composed of brass instruments.

Coins or other articles made of gold

Brass instruments or their players considered as a group.

The bullseye of an archery target.

A memorial plaque or tablet made of brass, especially one on which an effigy is incised.

Symbol Au A soft, yellow, corrosion-resistant element, the most malleable and ductile metal, occurring in veins and alluvial deposits and recovered by mining, panning, or sluicing. A good thermal and electrical conductor, gold is generally alloyed to increase its strength, and it is used as a common monetary standard, in jewelry, for decoration, and as a plated coating on a wide variety of electrical and mechanical components. Atomic number 79; atomic weight 196.967; melting point 1,064.2°C; boiling point 2,856.0°C; specific gravity 19.3; valence 1, 3. See Periodic Table.

A bushing or similar lining for a bearing, made from a copper alloy.

Coinage made of this element.

(Informal) Bold self-assurance; effrontery.

A gold standard.

(Slang) High-ranking military officers or other high officials.

Money; riches.

Chiefly British Money.

A light olive-brown to dark yellow, or a moderate, strong to vivid yellow.

(uncountable) A metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications.

Something regarded as having great value or goodness

A memorial or sepulchral tablet usually made of brass or latten

A medal made of gold awarded to one placing first in a competition, as in the Olympics

Fittings, utensils, or other items made of brass

Having the color of gold.

(music) A class of wind instruments, usually made of metal (such as brass), that use vibrations of the player's lips to produce sound; the section of an orchestra that features such instruments

(uncountable) A heavy yellow elemental metal of great value, with atomic number 79 and symbol Au.

Spent shell casings (usually made of brass); the part of the cartridge left over after bullets have been fired.

A coin or coinage made of this material, or supposedly so.

(uncountable) The colour of brass.

(uncountable) A deep yellow colour, resembling the metal gold.

High-ranking officers.

(countable) The bullseye of an archery target.

A brave or foolhardy attitude; impudence.

(countable) A gold medal.

Money.

(figuratively) Anything or anyone that is very valuable.

Inferior composition.

A grill jewellery worn on front teeth made of gold.

A brass nail; a prostitute.

Made of gold.

Made of brass, of or pertaining to brass.

Having gold of gold.

Of the colour of brass.

(of commercial services) Premium, superior.

(informal) Impertinent, bold: brazen.

Of a musical recording: having sold 500,000 copies.

(slang) Bad, annoying; as wordplay applied especially to brass instruments.

In a finished state, ready for manufacturing.

Of inferior composition.

To appear or cause to appear golden.

(slang) Brass monkey; cold.

Of or referring to a gold version of something

(transitive) To coat with brass.

An old English name of some yellow flower, - the marigold (Calendula), according to Dr. Prior, but in Chaucer perhaps the turnsole.

An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals.

A metallic element of atomic number 79, constituting the most precious metal used as a common commercial medium of exchange. It has a characteristic yellow color, is one of the heaviest substances known (specific gravity 19.32), is soft, and very malleable and ductile. It is quite unalterable by heat (melting point 1064.4° C), moisture, and most corrosive agents, and therefore well suited for its use in coin and jewelry. Symbol Au (Aurum). Atomic weight 196.97.

A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass. A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and Bearing.

Money; riches; wealth.

Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze.

A yellow color, like that of the metal; as, a flower tipped with gold.

Impudence; a brazen face.

Figuratively, something precious or pure; as, hearts of gold.

Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass.

Coins made of gold

A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait, coat of arms, etc.

A deep yellow color;

Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass.

A soft yellow malleable ductile (trivalent and univalent) metallic element; occurs mainly as nuggets in rocks and alluvial deposits; does not react with most chemicals but is attacked by chlorine and aqua regia

An alloy of copper and zinc

Great wealth;

A wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece

Something likened to the metal in brightness or preciousness or superiority etc.;

The persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something;

Made from or covered with gold;

Impudent aggressiveness;

Having the deep slightly brownish color of gold;

An ornament or utensil made of brass

The section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments

A memorial made of brass

Brass tarnishes due to oxidation with air and moisture, whereas gold is naturally non-reactive and does not tarnish.

Yes, brass can be used as a cost-effective substitute for gold in jewelry, but it does not have the same value or durability.

Gold's excellent conductivity and resistance to corrosion make it ideal for reliable and long-lasting electronic components.

Brass is favored for its acoustic properties and ease of manipulation into various shapes.

Yes, although both can appear similar, gold typically has a deeper yellow hue and does not tarnish, which can help distinguish it from brass.

Regular cleaning and occasionally applying a protective lacquer can prevent brass from tarnishing.

Gold is denser and therefore heavier than brass when comparing equal volumes.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, while gold is a pure element.

Brass is much less expensive than gold, making it accessible for more budget-conscious applications.

Yes, the color of brass can vary slightly depending on the proportions of copper and zinc.

Gold is commonly used in high-end jewelry, investments, and electronic components, unlike brass.

Brass, being an alloy, involves mining copper and zinc, which have environmental impacts, while gold mining is known for its particularly significant environmental and ethical concerns.

Gold is perceived as more valuable due to its rarity and use in luxury goods, whereas brass is considered more utilitarian.

No, gold is often alloyed with other metals to change its color and improve its strength.

Historically, gold has been used in coinage, royal artifacts, and cultural symbols across various civilizations, emphasizing its longstanding value and significance.