What is the Difference Between Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials lies in their response to magnetic fields. Here are the key differences:
- Paramagnetic materials are weakly attracted to magnetic fields, and they tend to align their electrons with the magnetic field when exposed to one. These materials have at least one unpaired electron in their atoms, which contributes to their paramagnetic behavior.
- Diamagnetic materials are weakly repelled by magnetic fields, and they tend to align their electrons against the magnetic field when exposed to one. All materials have some diamagnetic properties due to Lenz's laws, but it is more pronounced in materials that lack unpaired electrons.
In summary:
Property | Paramagnetic | Diamagnetic |
---|---|---|
Response to magnetic fields | Weakly attracted | Weakly repelled |
Electron alignment | Align with magnetic field | Align against magnetic field |
Unpaired electrons | At least one | None |
To determine if a substance is paramagnetic or diamagnetic, you can examine its electron configuration. If it has unpaired electrons, it is likely to be paramagnetic, while if it has no unpaired electrons, it is likely to be diamagnetic.
Comparative Table: Paramagnetic vs Diamagnetic
Here is a table comparing the differences between paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials:
Property | Paramagnetic | Diamagnetic |
---|---|---|
Definition | Materials attracted to an external magnetic field | Materials repelled by an external magnetic field |
Electron Configuration | Unpaired electrons | Paired electrons |
Magnetic Susceptibility | Positive (small) | Negative (weak) |
Strength of Attraction/Repulsion | Weaker than ferromagnetic materials | Weaker than ferromagnetic materials and paramagnetic materials |
Typical Elements | Magnesium, Molybdenum, Lithium, Tantalum | Carbon, Copper, Silver, Gold |
Paramagnetic materials have unpaired electrons, which cause them to be attracted to an external magnetic field. On the other hand, diamagnetic materials have paired electrons, resulting in their repulsion from an external magnetic field. Both paramagnetic and diamagnetic materials lose their magnetic properties when they are not in a magnetic field. The key difference between the two lies in their electron configuration, with paramagnetic materials having unpaired electrons and diamagnetic materials having paired electrons.
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