what is the definition of ferrous & non-ferrous metals and which are they?

Answer 1

Ferrous metals have an Iron content and are magnetic.
Non-Ferrous do not, and are not!

Answer 2

One method of classifying metals is by their content, and one common devision is into ferrous metals 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. However since ferrous metals are the most common magnetic materials, magnets are commonly used to separate them from non-ferrous metals and other materials.

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

Answer 3

ferrous means iron, non-ferrous means non-iron. Look at a Periodic table of elements. Look for Iron, the elements in the same column start with the same molecules, they just vary to a degree, everything else is non-iron.

Answer 4

ferrous-minerals containing iron
example-iron ore,manganese,pyrites,chromite

non ferrous-minerals containing metals other than iron
example-copper,lead,gold