Question

Give two examples of paramagnetic substances.

Answer 1

Paramagnetic substance:

1. Atoms are referred to as paramagnetic if they have unpaired electrons in their orbitals.
2. There is more paramagnetic behavior the more unpaired electrons there are.
3. Such materials exhibit paramagnetism, a characteristic that causes them to show weak attraction to the external magnetic field.
4. Paraganetism is because of the unpaired electrons, which when exposed to a magnetic field act as tiny magnets.
5. Example: Aluminum, Magnesium.
6. Aluminum has an atomic number $13$ with an electronic configuration$1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^{6}3{\mathrm{s}}^{2}3{\mathrm{p}}^1$. It has one unpaired electron in the p-orbital hence, it is paramagnetic in nature.
7. Oxygen has an atomic number $8$ is$1{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{s}}^{2}2{\mathrm{p}}^4$. It has two unpaired electrons in the p-orbital hence, it is paramagnetic in nature.

Therefore, two examples of paramagnetic substances are Aluminum and Oxygen.