Magnetochemistry

Abstract

All materials can be classified according to their behavior in a magnetic field. This is possible because a field is either present or can be induced in the materials, and this internal field interacts with the applied (or external) field. If the induced field opposes the external magnetic field, the material is said to show diamagnetic behavior. When the induced field aids the external field, the material is called paramagnetic. Hence, when a material is placed in an inhomogeneous magnetic field, it is either attracted toward a strong magnetic field (paramagnetic) or repelled from it (diamagnetic). An electron may be considered as a magnet formed by an electric charge spinning on its axis. Paramagnetism results from the presence of a permanent magnetic dipole, and is characteristic of atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. In addition, an electron traveling in a closed path around the nucleus produces a magnetic moment. Filled electron shells are diamagnetic. The magnetic properties of an atom will result from the combined spin and orbital moments of its electrons.