Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Diamagnetism Paramagnetism Ferromagnetism
Dr. DeBacco
Three Main Types of Magnetic Behavior
Diamagnetism
Paramagnetism
Ferromagnetism
Strength: Ferromagnetism greater than Paramagnetism greater than Diamagnetism.
Diamagnetism
A weak repulsion from a magnetic field, caused by paired electrons whose magnetic fields cancel each other out.
Full sub-levels or outer levels (all electrons paired)
Magnetic Behavior:
Slightly repelled by a magnetic field.
Temporary effect that disappears when the field is removed.
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetic: Most stable due to paired electrons (full outer level or sub-level), minimizing reactivity and magnetic response.
Examples:
Copper (Cu)
Gold (Au)
Helium (He)
Zinc (Zn)
Bismuth (Bi)
Water (H₂O), bismuth (Bi)
Even living tissues like frogs
Paramagnetism
A weak attraction to a magnetic field, caused by unpaired electrons that create a net magnetic moment.
Half-full or partially filled sub-levels (unpaired electrons)
Magnetic Behavior:
Attracted to a magnetic field.
Temporary, loses magnetism when the field is removed.
Strength depends on temperature
Paramagnetism
Paramagnetic: Less stable, often reactive due to unpaired electrons (half-full or no special arrangement)
Examples:
Oxygen (O₂)
Lithium (Li)
Aluminum (Al)
Manganese (Mn)
Platinum (Pt)
Uranium (U)
Ferromagnetism
A strong attraction to a magnetic field, caused by unpaired electrons and magnetic domain alignment.
Unpaired electrons in d/f sub-levels with specific lattice structures.
Magnetic Behavior:
Strongly attracted to a magnetic field.
Permanent magnetism- retains magnetization even after the field is removed.
Ferromagnetism
Ferromagnetic: Least stable chemically (reactive due to unpaired d electrons), but magnetically stable due to domain alignment.
Examples:
Iron (Fe)
Cobalt (Co)
Nickel (Ni)
Summary Table
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1cF15aycGqaVtqzY-8pr1Lt96iZvgQWXK/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Diamagnetism Paramagnetism Ferromagnetism" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/14Zq2iTvNBep6bK8UnqUu7_fqBDTQ5mh9/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
Diamagnetism Paramagnetism Ferromagnetism
Dr. DeBacco
Three Main Types of Magnetic Behavior
Diamagnetism
Paramagnetism
Ferromagnetism
Strength: Ferromagnetism greater than Paramagnetism greater than Diamagnetism.
Diamagnetism
A weak repulsion from a magnetic field, caused by paired electrons whose magnetic fields cancel each other out.
Full sub-levels or outer levels (all electrons paired)
Magnetic Behavior:
Slightly repelled by a magnetic field.
Temporary effect that disappears when the field is removed.
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetic: Most stable due to paired electrons (full outer level or sub-level), minimizing reactivity and magnetic response.
Examples:
Copper (Cu)
Gold (Au)
Helium (He)
Zinc (Zn)
Bismuth (Bi)
Water (H₂O), bismuth (Bi)
Even living tissues like frogs
Paramagnetism
A weak attraction to a magnetic field, caused by unpaired electrons that create a net magnetic moment.
Half-full or partially filled sub-levels (unpaired electrons)
Magnetic Behavior:
Attracted to a magnetic field.
Temporary, loses magnetism when the field is removed.
Strength depends on temperature
Paramagnetism
Paramagnetic: Less stable, often reactive due to unpaired electrons (half-full or no special arrangement)
Examples:
Oxygen (O₂)
Lithium (Li)
Aluminum (Al)
Manganese (Mn)
Platinum (Pt)
Uranium (U)
Ferromagnetism
A strong attraction to a magnetic field, caused by unpaired electrons and magnetic domain alignment.
Unpaired electrons in d/f sub-levels with specific lattice structures.
Magnetic Behavior:
Strongly attracted to a magnetic field.
Permanent magnetism- retains magnetization even after the field is removed.
Ferromagnetism
Ferromagnetic: Least stable chemically (reactive due to unpaired d electrons), but magnetically stable due to domain alignment.
Examples:
Iron (Fe)
Cobalt (Co)
Nickel (Ni)
Summary Table
Link to Lecture Slides: drive.google.com/file/d/1cF15aycGqaVtqzY-8pr1Lt96iZvgQWXK/view?usp=drive_link
*Due to the description character limit the full work cited for "Diamagnetism Paramagnetism Ferromagnetism" can be viewed at... docs.google.com/document/d/14Zq2iTvNBep6bK8UnqUu7_fqBDTQ5mh9/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=104237452697237972847&rtpof=true&sd=true
