On the periodic table, the main metal in brass is copper.
Brass is an alloy composed primarily of copper and zinc, with the exact proportions varied to produce different colors, strengths, and working properties. Copper has atomic number 29 and the chemical symbol Cu, derived from the Latin name cuprum.
Copper has been used by human societies for thousands of years because it can be shaped relatively easily, conducts electricity and heat well, and resists many forms of corrosion. Brass is commonly used for musical instruments, plumbing fittings, decorative objects, and hardware. Small additions of other elements can alter an alloy’s performance.
Brass should not be confused with bronze. Brass is mainly copper and zinc, whereas traditional bronze is mainly copper and tin. Zinc is therefore an important component of brass but is not its main metal. Copper itself is also used extensively in electrical wiring because of its high conductivity.