Question map
Which one of the following is not a ferromagnetic material?
Explanation
Ferromagnetism is a physical phenomenon where certain materials exhibit strong, spontaneous magnetism. Common examples of ferromagnetic materials include iron, cobalt, and nickel. These materials possess unpaired electrons whose spins align parallel to each other, creating a strong internal magnetic field [3]. In contrast, silver is a diamagnetic material, meaning it is weakly repelled by magnetic fields and does not retain magnetic properties. While iron is a classic ferromagnet, its compounds like ferric chloride (FeCl3) typically exhibit paramagnetic behavior due to the presence of unpaired electrons that do not show long-range ferromagnetic ordering in the same way as the pure metal [1]. However, among the given options, silver is the most distinct non-ferromagnetic material as it is fundamentally diamagnetic and used in applications like foils due to its malleability rather than magnetic properties.
Sources
- [3] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: The World of Metals and Non-metals > Table 4.1: Appearance, hardness, and eff ect of hammering on diff erent objects or materials > p. 43
- [1] https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10416111