Why are some materials (iron, steel, heamatite) magnetic and others (like copper or aluminium) not? If it's about electron spin and alignment, why aren't all electrical conductors also magnetic or attracted to magnets even if they're not actually magnetic themselves, afterall they generate EM fields when a current is induced in them? Are there any magnetic or magnetisable non-metals? Why are only ferrous (iron based?) metals affected?
2007-12-02 21:59:57 · 1 answers · asked by Doom 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It's all about unpaired electrons. The transition metals add electrons to the second shell in, so there is the possibility of them being unpaired. Hence Fe Co and Ni. The other ferromagnets are the rare earths, which likewise are filling the second rather than the outer shell.
Why don't people use that fabulous resource, Wikipedia, rather than post questions here?
2007-12-02 22:34:41 · answer #1 · answered by za 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋