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From the iron and carbon, steel is making.
The elements which are used to making the steel for specific intention is giving the main difference between carbon steel and stainless steel.
A Complete difference Difference Between Carbon Steel vrs Stainless Steel pipe
Carbon steel and stainless steel are both metals that are used in a wide array of commercial and consumer applications. The main difference between the two is in the components that are added to the steel to make it useful for its intended purposes. Carbon steel has a higher carbon content, which gives the steel a lower melting point, more malleability and durability, and better heat distribution. Stainless steel has a high chromium content that forms an invisible layer on the steel to prevent corrosion and staining.
To the casual observer, carbon steel and stainless steel are easy to distinguish. Carbon steel is dull, with a matte finish that is comparable to a cast iron pot or wrought iron fencing. Stainless steel is lustrous and comes in various grades that can increase the chromium in the alloy until the steel finish is as reflective as a mirror. The coating provided by the chromium makes stainless steel attractive in its natural state, without needing to be painted or otherwise finished.
There are a few different ways to tell the difference between steels. There are a few different types of Stainless steel so some tests work better than others. The300 series stainless steel contains Chromium and Nickel which makes this steel non-magnetic but the400 series steel contains just chromium which makes this type magnetic, so first test is if a magnet does not stick to it then it is stainless steel. If a magnet does however stick to it is does not mean that is is high carbon steel, so proceed to the next test. Examine the steel, does it seem to have any rust on it, any red oxidation of the metal which indicated a higher iron content which is found mainly in carbon steels, stainless steel will NOT rust in this way, so if you don't mind putting it to the test try putting a blot of water on it and leaving it over night, if red rust occurs it is carbon steel, if not you have stainless.
