What is so unique about iron that no other metal interacts with magnetic fields the same way?

Question

I’ve heard it said that only ferrous metals are attracted to magnets, or can become permanently magnetized. I don’t get it. :c

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

First off, “ferrous metals” ≠ “iron”, there are other ferrous metals.

The term “ferrous metal” means “magneticly interactive”, so the definition covers the behavior you see. There are actually 5 groups:

1. Diamagnetism = little effect from magnetic fields

2. Paramagnetism = have magnetic properties in a magnetic field, but can’t be permanently magnetized

3. Ferromagnetism = the one you’re describing, can be made magnetic

4. Ferrimagnetism = magnetic oxides have this effect, so you can make a tiny part N->S magnetic and the next part S->N magnetic and they don’t change each other

5. Antiferromagnetism = these block magnetic fields