Here's a puzzle for you to solve:I need to build a machine that can differentiate between copper, zinc, iron, magnesium, and aluminumObviously I could isolate each metal slowly and by hand, but such a method is ineffective in my situationI have the mechanical and programming know-how to build such a machine, but how does one actually differentiate between the two? For example, what different characteristics of zinc and iron or copper could the machine identify in order to differentiate?Many thanks.P.S.: Please answer only if you actually know the subjectBeing in an earth sciences class does not make you an expert on the matter.
Copper is the only one with a yellow color Iron you can pick off by a magnet What are the pieces? random shapes and sizes? Varying amounts of corrosion and dirt? Because it can be very difficult if not impossible to automate on a one by one basis the remaining metals IF they are a uniform size and shape, like coins, you can separate them by weight, ie, density And what about alloys, various steels, brass, bronze, various aluminum/magnesium alloysSome stainless steels are not magneticA penny is 98% zinc but appears to be copper in appearance because of a coating of copper on the outside.
