can someone explain the whole magnetism with unpaired electron thing, I had it simplified in my notes but can't find it.
basically, diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and farromagnetic.
I thought there were only 2 types, one magnetic becuase of unpaired electrons, and one nonmagnetic becuase all their electrons are paired.
hoping someone can elaborate,
THanks!!!!!
Aright so the concept is actually rather simple. All you need to know is diamagnetic vs paramagnetic.
1. All electrons have a spin which is denoted as either positive or negative (fourth quantum number)
2. Spins of opposite nature (positive and negative) cancel out when they exist in the same orbital. Remember, only two electrons can fit into one orbital
3. When electrons begin filling orbitals according to Hund's Rule, the empty orbitals fill up first with parallel positive spin. So take nitrogen, all 3 p orbitals are filled with positive spin. This atom will be highly magnetic since none of the three orbitals have their magnetic spin being canceled out.
4. As you move to the right, electrons begin to fill the half-filled orbitals with opposite spin (negative). Therefore, as you move to the right, magnetism is getting canceled out. It is becoming less magnetic in a sense
5. As you reach neon, all the orbitals are filled with two electrons each, conferring no magnetism. Since, again, all of the positive spin electrons are canceled out by the negative spin.
6. When a magnetic field is applied to an atom like nitrogen, the electrons with positive spin "align" with the field, causing magnetism. Whereas if you had neon, the positive spin electrons would still align with the magnetic field but the magnetism would be canceled out by the negative spinned electrons which align AGAINST the magnetic field since by their nature they have opposite spin, thus, causing no magnetism.
Cheers.
Medemic.
