Try specific gravity testing to determine the metal.
You will need a gram scale that will read .01 gram.
To find the specific gravity:
weigh the object in air, weigh it in water.
divide the difference into the weight in air.
the result is the SG and can be compared to the table at:
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-gravity-solids-metals-d_293.html
In weighing the object I hang it from a metal gallows and thread on the scale for the in the air weight. The scale is zeroed out with the gallows and string on the scale before hanging the object from the string.
Then I fill a small pill bottle with the water and while holding the bottle locate it so I can raise the bottle submersing the object in the water. Do not let the object touch the side of the bottle or rest the bottle on the scale, it must be held to obtain the weight in water of the object.
A simple chart for what we look for:
Metal | Density |
Gold | 19.3 |
Silver | 10.5 |
Platinum | 21.4 |
Palladium | 12.0 |
Copper | 9.0 |
9ct | 10.9 to 12.7 |
14ct | 12.9 to 14.6 |
18ct Yellow | 15.2 to 15.9 |
18ct White | 14.7 to 16.9 |
22ct | 17.7 to 17.8 |
Sterling Silver | 10.2 to 10.3 |
950 Platinum | 20.1 |
Note: the SG differences in gold and the different K (ct) of gold. This is due to the the various alloyed metals in the pure gold having different SGs themselves.