Paramagnetic

Definition

Paramagnetic materials are those that have unpaired electrons and are attracted to magnetic fields. This property arises from the presence of unpaired electrons in the atoms or ions of the material, which leads to a net magnetic moment. When exposed to an external magnetic field, paramagnetic materials align their magnetic moments in the direction of the field, resulting in a weak attraction. This behavior connects closely to properties like density and specific gravity, as well as the classification of native elements based on their magnetic characteristics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Paramagnetic materials exhibit a weak attraction to magnetic fields, unlike ferromagnetic materials that display strong attraction.
2. The strength of paramagnetism is generally much weaker than that of ferromagnetism and is directly related to the number of unpaired electrons.
3. Temperature can affect paramagnetism; as temperature increases, thermal agitation can disrupt the alignment of unpaired electrons, reducing magnetization.
4. Some common examples of paramagnetic materials include aluminum, platinum, and certain metal ions like iron (Fe2+).
5. In terms of density and specific gravity, paramagnetic substances may show variations influenced by their magnetic properties, impacting their overall physical characteristics.

Review Questions

• How do unpaired electrons contribute to the paramagnetic properties of a material?
  • Unpaired electrons in atoms or ions create a net magnetic moment, which makes the material paramagnetic. When exposed to a magnetic field, these unpaired electrons tend to align with the field, resulting in a weak attraction. The number of unpaired electrons directly influences the strength of this paramagnetism, meaning materials with more unpaired electrons will exhibit stronger paramagnetic behavior.
• Compare and contrast paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials in terms of their behavior in a magnetic field.
  • Paramagnetic materials are weakly attracted to a magnetic field due to the presence of unpaired electrons that can align with the field. In contrast, ferromagnetic materials are strongly attracted and can maintain their magnetization even after the external field is removed. While both types contain unpaired electrons, ferromagnetic materials have a more complex arrangement that allows them to achieve spontaneous magnetization at certain temperatures.
• Evaluate how temperature affects the paramagnetic properties of materials and provide an example.
  • Temperature significantly influences the paramagnetic properties of materials by affecting the thermal motion of atoms. As temperature rises, this thermal agitation can disrupt the alignment of unpaired electrons with an external magnetic field, leading to decreased magnetization. For example, in some metal ions like iron (Fe2+), increasing temperature diminishes their paramagnetism as they struggle to maintain alignment against thermal motion.

Related terms

Diamagnetic: Materials that do not have unpaired electrons and are slightly repelled by magnetic fields.

Ferromagnetic: Materials that exhibit strong magnetic properties and can retain magnetization even after the external magnetic field is removed.

Magnetic Susceptibility: A measure of how much a material will become magnetized in an applied magnetic field.