The difference between ferrous and non-ferrous metals is that ferrous metals contain iron and non-ferrous metals do not. This basic difference imparts distinctive properties on the two types of metals, which add to their own personal physical properties and determine the applications they are most suited for.
Non-ferrous metals include aluminium, copper, lead, zinc and tin, as well as precious metals like gold and silver. Their main advantage over ferrous materials is their malleability.