Paramagnetic

Paramagnetic refers to a type of magnetism that arises from the presence of unpaired electrons in the atomic or molecular orbitals. This type of magnetism is only noticeable in the presence of an external magnetic field. Paramagnetic materials are attracted to magnetic fields, which is why they exhibit positive magnetic susceptibility.

Characteristics

Paramagnetic materials have a small, positive susceptibility to magnetic fields. These materials are slightly attracted by a magnetic field and the material does not retain the magnetic properties when the external field is removed. Paramagnetic properties are due to the presence of some unpaired electrons, and from the realignment of the electron paths caused by the external magnetic field.

Examples

Examples of paramagnetic materials include magnesium, molybdenum, lithium, and tantalum.

Applications

Paramagnetic materials are used in a variety of applications, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In an MRI, paramagnetic contrast agents are used to increase the contrast between different tissues, making it easier to see the difference between healthy and diseased tissue.

See also

• Diamagnetism
• Ferromagnetism
• Antiferromagnetism
• Ferrimagnetism

References

Paramagnetic Resources
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