What is the Difference Between Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic?

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:

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:

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.