Magnetic Properties of Metals

Magnetic properties of metals

Magnets are fascinating because they interact differently with different metals.

These interactions depend on the material's magnetic properties, which are influenced by electron structure and magnetic moments.

Ferromagnetic metals

These are the metals most commonly attracted strongly to magnets:

Iron (Fe): A principal ferromagnetic metal, found both in pure form and in many steels.

Nickel (Ni): Used in some coins and industrial alloys, with notable magnetic properties.

Cobalt (Co): Used in specialist alloys and permanent magnets.

Rare-earth elements:

Gadolinium (Gd): Has a Curie temperature close to room temperature, below which it can be ferromagnetic.

Neodymium (Nd): An essential constituent of strong neodymium–iron–boron permanent magnets.

Samarium (Sm): Used in samarium–cobalt permanent magnets.

Ferromagnetic alloys

Alloys containing ferromagnetic metals may also be ferromagnetic, depending on their composition and structure.

For example, many steels are strongly attracted to magnets, although some stainless steels respond only weakly or are effectively non-magnetic.

Paramagnetic metals

These metals show a weak attraction in an applied magnetic field:

• Platinum (Pt)

• Aluminium (Al)

• Tungsten (W)

• Molybdenum (Mo)

• Tantalum (Ta)

• Caesium (Cs)

• Lithium (Li)

• Magnesium (Mg)

• Sodium (Na)

• Uranium (U)

Diamagnetic metals

These metals respond to an applied magnetic field by producing a weak opposing magnetic response, so they are weakly repelled:

• Copper (Cu)

• Silver (Ag)

• Gold (Au)

• Zinc (Zn)