Question

What is a natural magnet? Name the chemical formula of compound present in it.

Answer 1

Natural magnet:

1. Magnet was discovered in a town of Magnesia in Asia Minor (Greece).
2. Magnet is formed by a blackish rock known as magnetite.
3. This occurs naturally in the earth's surface.
4. A natural magnet is an ore of iron that attracts small pieces of iron, cobalt, and nickel towards it.
5. Natural magnets are permanent magnets.
6. These have magnetic properties of attraction-repulsion and directive.
7. It is usually an oxide of iron known as iron oxide.

Chemical formula:

Chemically the compound present in natural magnet is represented as $F{e}_3{O}_4$.