Electrical and Magnetic Properties

Electrical and magnetic properties of solids

Introduction

The magnetic dipoles in solids are responsible for the magnetic properties of solids in chemistry, commonly referred to as magnetism. In magnetic materials, the magnetic dipole moment is created by electrons spinning in their axis and orbital motion around the atom’s nucleus.

Solids have magnetic properties due to the magnetic fields created by electron magnetic moments and electric currents. One of the numerous features of electromagnetism is the magnetic characteristic of solids, which is one of them. The small charge of an electron creates a magnetic field along its axis. The magnetic moment is created by the angular momentum of the electron’s rotating motion.

Different Types Of Material

Magnetic Materials

Magnetic materials are those that are attracted to a magnet. The magnetic properties of iron, nickel, and cobalt are demonstrated because a magnet attracts items constructed of these materials. Magnetic materials can also be magnetised, or we can say that they can be transformed into magnets.

Non-Magnetic Materials

Non-magnetic materials are materials that are not attracted to a magnet. Except for iron, nickel, and cobalt, all other substances are non-magnetic. Non-magnetic materials include things like plastic, rubber, and water. Magnetisation is not possible with non-magnetic materials.

Electrical and Magnetic Properties of Solids

As stated earlier, the magnetic and electrical properties of solids are two different aspects of a single phenomenon, known as electromagnetism. Solids all have different electrical conductivities. Conductivity is the property of an object to conduct electricity. Other such electric properties of solids include resistivity, capacitance, and impedance. Metals and alloys are great electric conductors, whereas ceramics and glasses are good insulators. Semiconductors have both electrons and holes in them to contribute to current. Materials such as aluminium, tin, metal alloys, and heavily doped semiconductors exhibit superconductivity at low temperatures. 

Magnetic Property of Solids

The magnetic properties are determined by the atoms or ions that make up that solid’s atomic or ion composition. The magnetism and magnetisation of a solid are influenced by the movement of electrons within an atom. It can thus be said that each electron of an atom behaves like a magnet, lending the whole solid its magnetic property.

Substances that are diamagnetic: 

Solids that are mildly repelled by magnets fall into this group. All electrons in diamagnetic materials are coupled. As a result, the magnetic dipole moment is nullified. Examples are H2O, TiO2, NaCl, V2O5, and other diamagnetic compounds. These materials exhibit a tiny magnetic dipole moment that is polarised in the opposite direction as the magnetic field.

Substances with Ferromagnetic Properties:

The magnetic field attracts these materials aggressively, which can also be magnetised indefinitely. Ions from ferromagnetic material form small clusters that function as small magnets. A domain is a name given to this tiny magnetic zone. The domains are orientated in the same directional fields when a magnetic field is applied. The domains stay aligned to oriented to the permanent magnets even when the magnetic field is removed. These materials have a low magnetic moment. The magnetic moments of the domains of the substances are aligned in unequal quantities in parallel and antiparallel orientations. Magnetite and ferrites are two examples.

Substances with Paramagnetic Properties:

Paramagnetic substances are solids that are only faintly attracted to a magnetic field. They are attracted to the magnet in the same direction. These aren’t long-lasting magnets. One or more unpaired electrons are attracted by the magnetic field, resulting in paramagnetism. As a result, they are just transient magnets—O2, Cu2+, VO, VO2, CuO, TiO, and other paramagnetic compounds.

Substances that are antiferromagnetic: 

These materials have a net magnetic moment of zero. They do, however, have similar domains as that of ferromagnetic materials. Since these domains are oriented in opposing directions, they cancel each other out, resulting in zero/null magnetic moments. Antiferromagnetic compounds include MnO and V2O.

Electrical Properties of Solids

The electrical properties of the material are referred to as conductivity. The capacity of a substance to convey heat or electrical energy is defined as its electrical conductivity. As a result, a good electricity conductor may easily carry energy without boiling, dissolving, or otherwise changing its composition.

Solids have varying degrees of conductivity; their electrical properties are not uniform.

Solids are currently categorised into three types depending on their electrical conductivity. These three categories are as follows:

 Conductors:

Solids with high electrical conductivity are known as conductors. They allow heat and electric currents to pass through them easily and quickly. Through free-electron passage from atom to atom, conductors enable this energy transfer. They can bring this energy all over themselves while the current is just applied to one portion of their body. Conductors are solids with conductivities in the range of 104 to 108 ohm-1 m-1. Metals are excellent electrical conductors. Silver has a conductivity of around 107 ohm-1 m-1, making it an excellent conductor.

 Insulators: 

In contrast to conductors, insulators are substances that do not transmit any electrical energy or currents. They do not permit any (or very little) electric charge to pass across them. They have a large bandgap, which inhibits electricity from flowing through them. Wood, rubber, plastic, glass, and other materials are only a few examples. Insulators are solids with conductivities ranging from 10-20 to 10-10 ohm-1 m-1.

Semiconductors:

Semiconductors are the materials that exist between conductors and insulators. These are solids that can conduct electricity but only under certain conditions. Two such situations limit semiconductors’ capacity to conduct energy, heat, and impurities. Semiconductors are solids with an intermediate conductivity range, ranging from 10-6 to 104 ohm-1 m-1.

 Conclusion

Electrical and magnetic properties have always been an essential discussion in chemistry. So, here we attempted to cover intricate details about the topic throughout the article. We included an elaborated definition, magnetic and electrical properties of solids and types of magnetic and electrical materials.