What term describes a substance that has several unpaired electrons per atom and is strongly attracted to magnets?

What term describes a substance that has several unpaired electrons per atom and is strongly attracted to magnets?

• A. Ferromagnetic
• B. Paramagnetic
• C. Nonmagnetic
• D. Diamagnetic

Answer: (A)

When a material has several unpaired electrons per atom, those tiny magnetic moments can interact strongly with each other and align in the same direction across many atoms. This creates a large, collective magnetic field, so the substance is pulled very strongly toward a magnet and can even become magnetized on its own. That behavior is called ferromagnetic. In contrast, materials with unpaired electrons but weaker interactions only show a tiny attraction that disappears when the external field is removed (paramagnetic). Materials with all electrons paired have little to no net magnetic moment, so they are not attracted to magnets (diamagnetic or nonmagnetic).

When a material has several unpaired electrons per atom, those tiny magnetic moments can interact strongly with each other and align in the same direction across many atoms. This creates a large, collective magnetic field, so the substance is pulled very strongly toward a magnet and can even become magnetized on its own. That behavior is called ferromagnetic. In contrast, materials with unpaired electrons but weaker interactions only show a tiny attraction that disappears when the external field is removed (paramagnetic). Materials with all electrons paired have little to no net magnetic moment, so they are not attracted to magnets (diamagnetic or nonmagnetic).