Copper vs. Brass — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 23, 2023
Copper is a pure elemental metal with a reddish-orange hue; Brass is an alloy composed primarily of copper and zinc, often with a golden-yellow appearance.
Difference Between Copper and Brass
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Copper, recognized for its distinctive reddish-orange color, is a chemical element found in the periodic table with the symbol Cu. As one of the few metallic elements with a natural color, Copper is known for its malleability and conductivity. On the other hand, Brass is not an elemental metal. Instead, it is an alloy predominantly made up of Copper and Zinc. The proportion of zinc added to Copper will affect the properties of the resulting Brass.
Although both Copper and Brass exhibit good electrical and thermal conductivity, Copper is superior in these domains due to its elemental purity. Brass, due to the presence of zinc and other potential alloying elements, generally has a lower conductivity than pure Copper but offers resistance to corrosion that might outperform Copper in some environments.
The applications of Copper and Brass differ due to their distinct properties. Copper is frequently utilized in electrical wiring, plumbing, and for cookware, given its excellent heat conduction. Brass, with its resistance to corrosion, is often employed for decorative purposes, musical instruments, and fittings.
Historically, the aesthetic differences between Copper and Brass have made them sought-after materials for various uses. While Copper can develop a greenish patina with age, Brass is appreciated for its golden-yellow hue. The decorative value of Brass often complements its functional utility in objects like door handles, coins, and ornamental pieces.
Comparison Chart
Composition
Pure elemental metal
Alloy of mainly Copper and Zinc
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Color
Reddish-orange
Golden-yellow
Conductivity
High electrical and thermal conductivity
Lower than Copper due to the presence of Zinc
Corrosion
Can develop a greenish patina
Generally more resistant to corrosion
Typical Uses
Electrical wiring, plumbing, cookware
Decorative items, musical instruments, fittings
Compare with Definitions
Copper
A reddish-orange elemental metal.
Copper is used extensively in electrical wiring.
Brass
An alloy whose properties vary based on its Copper-to-Zinc ratio.
The hardness of Brass can be adjusted by altering its composition.
Copper
A chemical element with the symbol Cu.
The conductivity of Copper makes it valuable in many industries.
Brass
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.
Copper
A metal known for its malleability and ductility.
Artisans often choose Copper for crafting jewelry.
Brass
A yellowish alloy of copper and zinc, sometimes including small amounts of other metals, but usually 67 percent copper and 33 percent zinc.
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity.
Brass
Ornaments, objects, or utensils made of this alloy.
Copper
Symbol Cu A ductile, malleable, reddish-brown metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity and is widely used for electrical wiring, water piping, and corrosion-resistant parts, either pure or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Atomic number 29; atomic weight 63.546; melting point 1,085°C; boiling point 2,562°C; specific gravity 8.96; valence 1, 2. See Periodic Table.
Brass
The section of a band or an orchestra composed of brass instruments.
Copper
A coin, usually of small denomination, made of copper or a copper alloy.
Brass
Brass instruments or their players considered as a group.
Copper
Chiefly British A large cooking pot made of copper or often of iron.
Brass
A memorial plaque or tablet made of brass, especially one on which an effigy is incised.
Copper
Any of various small butterflies of the subfamily Lycaeninae, having predominantly copper-colored wings.
Brass
A bushing or similar lining for a bearing, made from a copper alloy.
Copper
A reddish brown.
Brass
(Informal) Bold self-assurance; effrontery.
Copper
A police officer.
Brass
(Slang) High-ranking military officers or other high officials.
Copper
To coat or finish with a layer of copper.
Brass
Chiefly British Money.
Copper
(Slang) To bet against, as in faro.
Brass
(uncountable) A metallic alloy of copper and zinc used in many industrial and plumbing applications.
Copper
(uncountable) A reddish-brown, malleable, ductile metallic element with high electrical and thermal conductivity, symbol Cu, and atomic number 29.
Brass
A memorial or sepulchral tablet usually made of brass or latten
Copper
The reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
Brass
Fittings, utensils, or other items made of brass
Copper
Any of various specialized items that are made of copper, where the use of copper is either traditional or vital to the function of the item.
Brass
(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
Copper
(countable) A copper coin, typically of a small denomination, such as a penny.
Brass
Spent shell casings (usually made of brass); the part of the cartridge left over after bullets have been fired.
Copper
A large pot, often used for heating water or washing clothes over a fire. In Australasia at least, it could also be a fixed installation made of copper, with a fire underneath and its own chimney. Generally made redundant by the advent of the washing machine.
Mum would heat the water in a copper in the kitchen and transfer it to the tin bath.
I explain that socks can’t be boiled up in the copper with the sheets and towels or they shrink.
Brass
(uncountable) The colour of brass.
Copper
(entomology) Any of various lycaenid butterflies with copper-coloured upperwings, especially those of the genera Lycaena and Paralucia.
Brass
High-ranking officers.
The brass are not going to like this.
The brass is not going to like this.
Copper
A police officer.
Brass
A brave or foolhardy attitude; impudence.
You've got a lot of brass telling me to do that!
Copper
Made of copper.
Brass
Money.
Copper
Having the reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
Brass
Inferior composition.
Copper
To sheathe or coat with copper.
Brass
A brass nail; a prostitute.
Copper
A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze.
Brass
Made of brass, of or pertaining to brass.
Copper
A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper.
My friends filled my pockets with coppers.
Brass
Of the colour of brass.
Copper
A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.
Brass
(informal) Impertinent, bold: brazen.
Copper
The boilers in the galley for cooking; as, a ship's coppers.
All in a hot and copper sky.
Brass
(slang) Bad, annoying; as wordplay applied especially to brass instruments.
Copper
To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper; as, to copper a ship.
Brass
Of inferior composition.
Copper
A ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor
Brass
(slang) Brass monkey; cold.
Copper
A copper penny
Brass
(transitive) To coat with brass.
Copper
Uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
Brass
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.
Copper
A reddish brown the color of polished copper
Brass
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.
Copper
Any of various small butterflies of the family Lycaenidae having copper colored wings
Brass
Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze.
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey.
Copper
Coat with a layer of copper
Brass
Impudence; a brazen face.
Copper
A good conductor of electricity and heat.
Copper pans heat up quickly and evenly.
Brass
Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass.
The very scullion who cleans the brasses.
Copper
A metal that can develop a green patina over time.
The Statue of Liberty's green hue is due to the patina on its Copper surface.
Brass
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.
Brass
Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is near to that of brass.
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc
Brass
A wind instrument that consists of a brass tube (usually of variable length) blown by means of a cup-shaped or funnel-shaped mouthpiece
Brass
The persons (or committees or departments etc.) who make up a body for the purpose of administering something;
He claims that the present administration is corrupt
The governance of an association is responsible to its members
He quickly became recognized as a member of the establishment
Brass
Impudent aggressiveness;
I couldn't believe her boldness
He had the effrontery to question my honesty
Brass
An ornament or utensil made of brass
Brass
The section of a band or orchestra that plays brass instruments
Brass
A memorial made of brass
Brass
An alloy primarily composed of Copper and Zinc.
Brass instruments like trumpets produce a distinctive sound.
Brass
A golden-yellow alloy resistant to corrosion.
Door handles made of Brass can retain their luster for years.
Brass
An alloy used for both functional and decorative purposes.
Brass coins have a distinct appearance and feel.
Brass
A material common in musical instruments.
The Brass section in orchestras includes trombones and tubas.
Common Curiosities
Can Copper change color over time?
Yes, Copper can develop a greenish patina with age.
Is Brass a pure metal?
No, Brass is an alloy primarily composed of Copper and Zinc.
Which is a better conductor, Copper or Brass?
Copper is a superior conductor compared to Brass.
Why does Brass have a golden-yellow hue?
The presence of Zinc in Brass gives it a golden-yellow appearance.
Are Brass instruments made of pure Brass?
Most Brass instruments are made from various compositions of Brass, influenced by Copper and Zinc ratios.
What is Copper?
Copper is a reddish-orange pure elemental metal.
Does the composition of Brass always remain the same?
No, the properties of Brass can vary based on its Copper-to-Zinc ratio.
Are Copper and Brass expensive?
The prices vary based on market conditions, but Copper is generally more expensive than Zinc, affecting the cost of Brass.
Which is more resistant to corrosion, Copper or Brass?
Brass generally offers better resistance to corrosion than Copper.
Is Copper magnetic?
No, pure Copper is not magnetic, but certain alloys containing Copper can be.
Can you tell the difference between Copper and Brass by looking at them?
Typically, yes. Copper has a reddish-orange hue, while Brass is golden-yellow.
What is the main use of Copper?
Copper is widely used in electrical wiring due to its conductivity.
Why is Copper used in cookware?
Copper's excellent heat conduction makes it ideal for cookware.
What gives Brass its corrosion resistance?
The presence of Zinc in Brass provides increased resistance to corrosion.
Which is heavier, Copper or Brass?
The weight is dependent on volume and composition. Pure Copper is denser than Zinc, so a solid piece of Copper would be heavier than a piece of Brass of the same size.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
