Copper, a non-magnetic metal in our daily lives, sometimes exhibits peculiar behavior when exposed to magnetic fields. Is it magnetic after all? The answer lies in the intricate world of magnetic properties present in all elements. While iron, nickel, and cobalt are well-known ferromagnetic metals, which have a strong interaction with magnetic fields, most materials have weaker magnetic attributes, falling into the categories of paramagnetic or diamagnetic. Michael Coey, a physics professor, explained that paramagnetic materials exhibit temporary magnetization and are slightly attracted to magnets, while diamagnetic materials display a small repulsive force when exposed to a magnetic field.Copper is a diamagnetic material, and its magnetic properties are determined by the arrangement of its electrons. The filling of electron orbitals in the atom determines whether an element is paramagnetic or diamagnetic. Copper’s unique electron configuration results in all of its d electrons being paired, thereby canceling out the magnetic moment. This explains why copper does not demonstrate any magnetic behavior under normal conditions.Nonetheless, copper’s interaction with magnets is crucial due to its connection to electricity. This connection is defined by Lenz’s law in physics, where a changing magnetic field can induce a current in a conductor. Copper, with its low electrical resistance, facilitates the flow of these induced currents. The unpaired s electron plays a significant role in making copper an exceptional conductor. This phenomenon, known as electromagnetic induction, plays a central role in electricity generation and is used in various applications, such as generating a magnetic field in a metal core with an electric current, thereby creating an electromagnet.Copper’s ability to interact with magnets, despite not being ferromagnetic, is widely utilized in generating electricity, storing data on hard drives, and powering electronic devices.
