Are there physical properties that can be used to differentiate stainless steel from copper in a home...












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So the backstory is that I purchased a reusable drinking straw that is copper coloured, but is advertised to be stainless steel. That got me thinking about whether I could be sure it was one or the other without having access to a laboratory.



I saw this answer that mentions that the conductivity of steel is much lower, but I don't think my voltmeter could really measure something this small. The other effect I know of would be the Hall effect (nice because it's a tube, so it's easy to demonstrate), but I wasn't able to find what the predicted behaviour is for a steel tube.



My question is then: are there any at-home/readily available ways to differentiate copper vs. stainless steel.






material-science metals







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  • $begingroup$
    scratch test maybe. Find a material that has a hardness greater than copper and less than steel and see if it scratches
    $endgroup$
    – psitae
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Stainless steel can have colored finish (gasparini.com/en/blog/…)
    $endgroup$
    – akhmeteli
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    It is also strange someone would sell copper as stainless steel, unless the stainless steel is a very special one. But I know I am not answering the question. Just a though
    $endgroup$
    – Alchimista
    1 hour ago
















2












$begingroup$


So the backstory is that I purchased a reusable drinking straw that is copper coloured, but is advertised to be stainless steel. That got me thinking about whether I could be sure it was one or the other without having access to a laboratory.



I saw this answer that mentions that the conductivity of steel is much lower, but I don't think my voltmeter could really measure something this small. The other effect I know of would be the Hall effect (nice because it's a tube, so it's easy to demonstrate), but I wasn't able to find what the predicted behaviour is for a steel tube.



My question is then: are there any at-home/readily available ways to differentiate copper vs. stainless steel.






material-science metals







share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kolichikov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    scratch test maybe. Find a material that has a hardness greater than copper and less than steel and see if it scratches
    $endgroup$
    – psitae
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Stainless steel can have colored finish (gasparini.com/en/blog/…)
    $endgroup$
    – akhmeteli
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    It is also strange someone would sell copper as stainless steel, unless the stainless steel is a very special one. But I know I am not answering the question. Just a though
    $endgroup$
    – Alchimista
    1 hour ago














2












2








2





$begingroup$


So the backstory is that I purchased a reusable drinking straw that is copper coloured, but is advertised to be stainless steel. That got me thinking about whether I could be sure it was one or the other without having access to a laboratory.



I saw this answer that mentions that the conductivity of steel is much lower, but I don't think my voltmeter could really measure something this small. The other effect I know of would be the Hall effect (nice because it's a tube, so it's easy to demonstrate), but I wasn't able to find what the predicted behaviour is for a steel tube.



My question is then: are there any at-home/readily available ways to differentiate copper vs. stainless steel.






material-science metals







share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kolichikov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




So the backstory is that I purchased a reusable drinking straw that is copper coloured, but is advertised to be stainless steel. That got me thinking about whether I could be sure it was one or the other without having access to a laboratory.



I saw this answer that mentions that the conductivity of steel is much lower, but I don't think my voltmeter could really measure something this small. The other effect I know of would be the Hall effect (nice because it's a tube, so it's easy to demonstrate), but I wasn't able to find what the predicted behaviour is for a steel tube.



My question is then: are there any at-home/readily available ways to differentiate copper vs. stainless steel.






material-science metals




material-science metals






share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kolichikov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|cite|improve this question







New contributor




Kolichikov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|cite|improve this question




share|cite|improve this question






New contributor




Kolichikov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 5 hours ago









KolichikovKolichikov

1142




1142




New contributor




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New contributor





Kolichikov is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






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Check out our Code of Conduct.












  • $begingroup$
    scratch test maybe. Find a material that has a hardness greater than copper and less than steel and see if it scratches
    $endgroup$
    – psitae
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Stainless steel can have colored finish (gasparini.com/en/blog/…)
    $endgroup$
    – akhmeteli
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    It is also strange someone would sell copper as stainless steel, unless the stainless steel is a very special one. But I know I am not answering the question. Just a though
    $endgroup$
    – Alchimista
    1 hour ago


















  • $begingroup$
    scratch test maybe. Find a material that has a hardness greater than copper and less than steel and see if it scratches
    $endgroup$
    – psitae
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    Stainless steel can have colored finish (gasparini.com/en/blog/…)
    $endgroup$
    – akhmeteli
    3 hours ago










  • $begingroup$
    It is also strange someone would sell copper as stainless steel, unless the stainless steel is a very special one. But I know I am not answering the question. Just a though
    $endgroup$
    – Alchimista
    1 hour ago
















$begingroup$
scratch test maybe. Find a material that has a hardness greater than copper and less than steel and see if it scratches
$endgroup$
– psitae
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
scratch test maybe. Find a material that has a hardness greater than copper and less than steel and see if it scratches
$endgroup$
– psitae
3 hours ago












$begingroup$
Stainless steel can have colored finish (gasparini.com/en/blog/…)
$endgroup$
– akhmeteli
3 hours ago




$begingroup$
Stainless steel can have colored finish (gasparini.com/en/blog/…)
$endgroup$
– akhmeteli
3 hours ago












$begingroup$
It is also strange someone would sell copper as stainless steel, unless the stainless steel is a very special one. But I know I am not answering the question. Just a though
$endgroup$
– Alchimista
1 hour ago




$begingroup$
It is also strange someone would sell copper as stainless steel, unless the stainless steel is a very special one. But I know I am not answering the question. Just a though
$endgroup$
– Alchimista
1 hour ago










2 Answers
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$begingroup$

To see if the straw is stainless steel with a copper-colored coating, you can carefully sand or file off a bit of material from the end of the straw and see whether or not it is copper-colored throughout its thickness.



To see if the straw really is copper, dip one end of it in a boiling solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. This mixture is commonly used to remove tarnish from copper objects and will quickly make the end of the straw very bright and shiny. Stainless steel will be unaffected (i.e., not brightened) by this.






share|cite|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    2












    $begingroup$

    Why not density? At least for a quick check. You are dealing with about < 8 and 9 g per sqcm, respectively for steel and copper.






    share|cite|improve this answer









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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

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      active

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      active

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      2












      $begingroup$

      To see if the straw is stainless steel with a copper-colored coating, you can carefully sand or file off a bit of material from the end of the straw and see whether or not it is copper-colored throughout its thickness.



      To see if the straw really is copper, dip one end of it in a boiling solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. This mixture is commonly used to remove tarnish from copper objects and will quickly make the end of the straw very bright and shiny. Stainless steel will be unaffected (i.e., not brightened) by this.






      share|cite|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        2












        $begingroup$

        To see if the straw is stainless steel with a copper-colored coating, you can carefully sand or file off a bit of material from the end of the straw and see whether or not it is copper-colored throughout its thickness.



        To see if the straw really is copper, dip one end of it in a boiling solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. This mixture is commonly used to remove tarnish from copper objects and will quickly make the end of the straw very bright and shiny. Stainless steel will be unaffected (i.e., not brightened) by this.






        share|cite|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          2












          2








          2





          $begingroup$

          To see if the straw is stainless steel with a copper-colored coating, you can carefully sand or file off a bit of material from the end of the straw and see whether or not it is copper-colored throughout its thickness.



          To see if the straw really is copper, dip one end of it in a boiling solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. This mixture is commonly used to remove tarnish from copper objects and will quickly make the end of the straw very bright and shiny. Stainless steel will be unaffected (i.e., not brightened) by this.






          share|cite|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          To see if the straw is stainless steel with a copper-colored coating, you can carefully sand or file off a bit of material from the end of the straw and see whether or not it is copper-colored throughout its thickness.



          To see if the straw really is copper, dip one end of it in a boiling solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt. This mixture is commonly used to remove tarnish from copper objects and will quickly make the end of the straw very bright and shiny. Stainless steel will be unaffected (i.e., not brightened) by this.







          share|cite|improve this answer












          share|cite|improve this answer



          share|cite|improve this answer










          answered 4 hours ago









          niels nielsenniels nielsen

          17.3k42755




          17.3k42755























              2












              $begingroup$

              Why not density? At least for a quick check. You are dealing with about < 8 and 9 g per sqcm, respectively for steel and copper.






              share|cite|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                2












                $begingroup$

                Why not density? At least for a quick check. You are dealing with about < 8 and 9 g per sqcm, respectively for steel and copper.






                share|cite|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  Why not density? At least for a quick check. You are dealing with about < 8 and 9 g per sqcm, respectively for steel and copper.






                  share|cite|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  Why not density? At least for a quick check. You are dealing with about < 8 and 9 g per sqcm, respectively for steel and copper.







                  share|cite|improve this answer












                  share|cite|improve this answer



                  share|cite|improve this answer










                  answered 29 mins ago









                  AlchimistaAlchimista

                  31239




                  31239






















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