Which type of substance is attracted by a magnetic field, a diamagnetic substance or a paramagnetic substance?

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Understand the definitions: Diamagnetic substances have all their electrons paired, while paramagnetic substances have one or more unpaired electrons.

Recall that magnetic fields interact with unpaired electrons. Therefore, substances with unpaired electrons are affected by magnetic fields.

Diamagnetic substances are generally repelled by a magnetic field because they have no unpaired electrons.

Paramagnetic substances are attracted to a magnetic field due to the presence of unpaired electrons.

Conclude that paramagnetic substances are the ones attracted by a magnetic field.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Diamagnetism

Diamagnetic substances are materials that are not attracted to a magnetic field. They have all their electrons paired, which results in no net magnetic moment. When exposed to a magnetic field, they develop a weak, negative magnetic susceptibility, causing them to be repelled by the field.

Paramagnetism

Paramagnetic substances contain unpaired electrons, which give them a net magnetic moment. These materials are attracted to magnetic fields due to the alignment of their unpaired electrons with the external field. This attraction is generally weak and disappears when the external magnetic field is removed.

Magnetic Susceptibility

Magnetic susceptibility is a measure of how much a material will become magnetized in an external magnetic field. It quantifies the degree of magnetization of a substance in response to the applied field. Positive susceptibility indicates paramagnetic behavior, while negative susceptibility indicates diamagnetic behavior.