Ferrous And Non-Ferrous Metals

The term ferrous is derived from the Latin "Ferrum" which means "containing iron", thus ferrous metals contain iron and non ferrous metals do not.

Ferrous metals may be pure iron, like wrought iron, or they may be alloys of iron and other elements. Steel, being an alloy of iron and carbon, would therefore be a ferrous metal.

Ferrous metals are often magnetic, but this property is not in and of itself sufficient to classify a metal as ferrous or non-ferrous. Austenitic stainless steel, a ferrous metal, is non-magnetic, while cobalt is magnetic but non-ferrous. Ferrous metals are usually magentic, but there are a still some non-ferrous metals that are magnetic as well.

Common ferrous metals include the various irons and steels. Common non-ferrous metals include aluminum, tin, copper, zinc, and brass, an alloy of copper and zinc. Some precious metals such as silver, gold, and platinum are also non-ferrous.

Summary:

Non-ferrous metals mean they do not contain iron and ferrous metals mean they do contain iron. Ferrous metals are usually magnetic, although SOME non-ferrous metals are also magnetic.

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