Diamagnetic materials

Definition

Diamagnetic materials are substances that create an opposing magnetic field when exposed to an external magnetic field, causing a repulsive effect. These materials have no unpaired electrons and exhibit weak magnetism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Diamagnetic materials are repelled by both poles of a magnet.
2. The magnetic susceptibility of diamagnetic materials is negative, meaning they reduce the overall magnetic field strength within them.
3. Examples of diamagnetic materials include copper, gold, and bismuth.
4. Diamagnetism is a universal property of all matter but is usually very weak compared to paramagnetism and ferromagnetism.
5. In the presence of an external magnetic field, the induced magnetic moment in diamagnetic materials opposes the direction of the applied field.

Review Questions

• What happens to diamagnetic materials when placed in an external magnetic field?
• Name three examples of diamagnetic materials.
• How does the magnetic susceptibility of diamagnetic materials compare to paramagnetic and ferromagnetic materials?

Related terms

Paramagnetic Materials: Materials that are weakly attracted by an external magnetic field and form internal, induced magnetic fields in the direction of the applied field due to unpaired electrons.

Ferromagnetic Materials: Materials that can form strong permanent magnets or are strongly attracted by a magnet due to aligned internal spin structures.

Magnetic Susceptibility: A dimensionless proportionality constant that indicates how much a material will become magnetized in an applied magnetic field.