2006-10-16 04:01:25 · 6 answers · asked by wildbutterflychick 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It comes from the structure of an iron atom. The way the electrons group together makes one side of the atom have a high negative charge, and the other a high positive one. So each atom is like a tiny magnet in itself. When a large number of these miny-magnets line up, their combined attraction is the force that we call magnetism.
Most elements don't have this property because their atomic structures are more balanced. The electrons, and their charges, tend to spread evenly around the entire particle. And almost no complex compounds, such as wood, have any polarity to speak of. What little magnetic potential the individual atoms had tend to cancel each other out during the reaction which binds them together.
2006-10-16 04:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by juicy_wishun 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Is Iron Magnetic
2016-09-30 06:59:34 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the electrons in Iron line up in such a way that a couple of them are rotating the same way about the atom. (in this case you can think of the planetary model of the atom being correct)
But the atoms all orbit the neucleus in the same direction, and one of the fundimental laws of electromagnetics is that an orbiting charge causes a magnetic field. Thus the Iron atoms act like little tiny magnets, and if you put them in a magnetic field (by putting a magnet against them) the atoms will line up so that a big magnetic field is made.
This is a basic property of Fero-magnetic materials. (fero meaning iron like)
Wood on the other hand does not have this propertie... all of the electrons orbits cancel each other out. (maybe not all , but for the vast majority of the times) (if you have the most powerful magnent in the universe anything can be magnetic)
2006-10-16 04:10:37 · answer #3 · answered by farrell_stu 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Why is iron magnetic and wood not?
2015-02-03 04:04:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Iron is ferrous, and is a wholesome material or an element. Ferrous materials have magnetic properties.
Wood is a composition or mixture of many different elements and contains hardly any ferrous materials.
2006-10-16 04:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by designer_brian 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
That it because the atoms/ electrons in iron have a polarity unlike wood....
2006-10-16 04:04:03 · answer #6 · answered by Taurus 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
because of how the electrons in metals are arranged
2006-10-16 05:41:13 · answer #7 · answered by richeboi 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
because iron is metal and wood isnt.
2006-10-16 04:09:00 · answer #8 · answered by shepardman1 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
wood is organic like us
2006-10-16 04:20:45 · answer #9 · answered by kimht 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Because it is a metal.
2006-10-16 04:10:48 · answer #10 · answered by retired 1 · 0⤊ 5⤋