Question

Is ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{2+}$ paramagnetic or diamagnetic?

Answer 1

1. Paramagnetic substance: A metal, ion, or molecule is said to be paramagnetic if they consist of at least one unpaired electron. Examples of paramagnetic materials include tungsten($\mathbf{W}$), calcium($\mathbf{Ca}$), aluminum($\mathbf{Al}$), etc.
2. Diamagnetic substance: Atom, molecule or substance said to be diamagnetic if they do not carry any unpaired electron. Copper($\mathbf{Cu}$), Zinc($\mathbf{Zn}$), Bismuth($\mathbf{Bi}$), Silver($\mathbf{Ag}$), Gold($\mathbf{Au}$), Antimony($\mathbf{Sb}$) are a few of the more prevalent examples of diamagnetic materials.
3. Zinc: The electronic configuration of zinc is 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶4s²3d¹⁰ , the electronic configuration of ${\mathbf{Zn}}^{\mathbf{2}\mathbf{+}}$ is1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p⁶3d¹⁰.
4. From the electronic configuration of zinc 2+ it is clear that there is no unpaired electron, hence it acts as diamagnetic.

Hence ${\mathbf{Zn}}^{\mathbf{2}\mathbf{+}}$ is a diamagnetic substance.