Which term describes a substance that has unpaired electrons and is attracted to a magnet?

Disable ads (and more) with a premium pass for a one time $4.99 payment

Study for the MCAT Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems Exam. Practice with multiple choice questions, each with detailed explanations and hints. Excel in your exam and achieve your target score!

A substance with unpaired electrons exhibits paramagnetism, meaning it is attracted to a magnetic field. This attraction occurs because the unpaired electrons generate a net magnetic moment, allowing them to align with an external magnetic field.

When an external magnetic field is applied, the unpaired electrons tend to align with the field, resulting in a magnetic attraction. This behavior is particularly noticeable in materials that have a significant number of unpaired electrons, making them more susceptible to being influenced by magnetic fields.

In contrast, diamagnetic substances contain only paired electrons, which results in no net magnetic moment. These materials are weakly repelled by magnetic fields. Ferromagnetic materials, while also attracted to magnets, consist of regions with aligned magnetic moments even without an external magnetic field, and they can exhibit permanent magnetism. Non-magnetic substances do not show any interaction with magnetic fields.

Therefore, the correct term for a substance with unpaired electrons that is attracted to a magnet is paramagnetic.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy