HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Herrington, B. L. Articles by Brereton, J. G. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Herrington, B. L. Articles by Brereton, J. G.

A Simple Method for the Detection of Copper in Alloys

Department of Dairy Industry, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

ABSTRACT

Many alloys in use today contain large amounts of copper. In the case of brass and bronze, this fact is readily recognized. In the case of other alloys, such as nickel silver or monel metal, the presence of copper is not so obvious. Few, for instance, would suspect that a five cent piece contains 75 per cent of copper.

Since these copper alloys injure the flavor of milk to almost the same extent as pure copper, a simple method is needed for their detection. The following test was devised for use by the extension service of this department, and it has aroused so much interest that the details are published here. The method is based upon the fact that copper chloride imparts characteristic blue and green colors to a non-luminous flame. It is true that thallium and tellurium also yield green flames, and that arsenic lead and selenium may yield blue flames, but the characteristic colors due to copper may be readily recognized by one who is not color blind.