Magnet question

[Magicstick]

I've heard that magnets can pick up other metals and even other materials and not just iron, is this true? If so how?

[gen2]

Look up ferromagnetism on wikipedia.

Material...Curie
................temp. (K)
Co................1388
Fe................1043
FeOFe2O3*...858
NiOFe2O3*....858
CuOFe2O3* ...728
MgOFe2O3*....713
MnBi................630
Ni.....................627
MnSb...............587
MnOFe2O3*....573
Y3Fe5O12*.....560
CrO2...............386
MnAs ..............318
Gd...................292
Dy......................88
EuO...................69

[Magicstick]

I have absolutely no idea what all those numbers and scientific jargon means gen2 but will look up ferromagnetism.

[wildwood]

It depends on how much ferromagnetic content is present in the metal (alloy) one is trying to attract.

[Magicstick]

Waay over my head gen2 but thanks anyway.

[Magicstick]

Wildwood so organic materials can never be magnetic?

[wildwood]

Not that I know of. Some base metal are also not magnetic, like lead or copper.

[gen2]

The left column is the chemical symbol of the element or compound.

All ferromagnetic materials lose their magnetism when heated to their Curie Temperature, The temperature scale quoted is the Kelvin scale where 0 degrees C is approximately equivalent to 273K.
Gadolinium therefore becomes non-magnetic at room temperature.

[mibn2cweus]

As I understand it, some materials have an atomic structure which aligns itself in the presence of a magnetic field so as to produce a magnetic field of its own, making it a virtual magnet with opposite poles creating an attractive force as long as it remains within the field of the magnet inducing the alignment. Such internal realignments can not be maintained above a certain temperature.

http://www.madsci.org...8/891386132.Sh.r.html

[gen2]

Yes, Magicstick, Organic materials CAN be magnetic, but not at useful temperatures.

This one for example
http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/3448
only works below 10K (-263 deg C)

[dundurn]

Even if the material is not attractable by a magnet it may be movable in the presence of a strong magnetic field. (See linear induction motors.) In this case the movement is not towards the magnet but laterally. This method is used in recycling plants to remove non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and copper from conveyor belts transporting mixed rubbish.

[theprof]

gen2 using Wikipedia? Whatever next? I'd suggest that a link to the page would have been more useful than providing a table cut and pasted from the webpage that inevitably demanded further questions from the OP. Speculate: what percentage of the general public do you consider are familiar with the Kelvin scale?

There are people out there gen2 that are not as science educated as you and I. Personally, I try to reflect this in all my answers.

[beso]

Most materials are "diamagnetic" and actually repelled by magnetic fields. A classic demonstration is the levitation of a frog by "diamagnetic levitation".

Some materials are "paramagnetic" and weakly attracted by magnetic fields.

"Ferromagnetic" materials are stongly susceptible to magnetic fields and are attracted by them. The most common ferromagnetic materials are Iron, Nickel and Cobalt.

This page has a good breif explanation:

http://www.ndt-ed.org...ics/MagneticMatls.htm