Is Rust Magnetic ? 3 Facts You Should Know !

Rust is formed from the chemical reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of moisture of air or water molecules as the catalysts. Let us know whether rust is magnetic or not.

Rust (Fe₂O₃,xH₂O) is magnetic to a certain extent as is its constituents which are different oxides and hydroxides of iron, mainly hydrous ferric oxide. These oxides are paramagnetic substances and hence they can attract iron and these also make rust able to attract iron.

These iron oxides are used to have two unpaired electrons unlike iron which has four unpaired electrons. Let us go through questions like the reason behind rust’s magnetic or non-magnetic nature, do magnetic metals have rust or not, which magnetic metals do not have rust and many more like these.

Why is rust not magnetic?

When iron is exposed in moist air for a long time, a layer of hydrated oxide grows on the surface of the iron which is rust. Let us focus on the reason behind the non-magnetic nature of rust.

Rust can not show its magnetic properties to a larger extent. This is because it possesses a less ferromagnetic nature than iron. It is paramagnetic and can attract iron or any other magnetic material but not for a longer time.

Once a layer of rust is grown on the surface of iron its ability to attract magnets more specifically its magnetic properties also gets decreased than before.

Do magnetic metals rust?

Metals that possess magnetic properties are known as magnetic metals. Let us see if the magnetic materials rust.

Iron, one among the three ferromagnetic metals rusts but nickel and cobalt do not rust. If iron is exposed to moist air it reacts with water and oxygen and forms a brownish rust layer on its surface.

Magnetic metal that doesn’t rust

Rust is formed by the chemical reaction between iron, oxygen and air. Let us have a look at the magnetic metals that do not rust.

Nickel, cobalt, and manganese are the three examples of magnetic metals that do not rust. These three do not contain iron and hence they are not able to form layers of rust on their surface in spite of the fact that they can react with oxygen.

Conclusion

In this article 3 facts related to whether the rust is magnetic naturally or not have been discussed briefly. There are questions like the reason for rust being nonmagnetic, names of specific magnetic materials that do not rust, and the reason are also answered in it in a simplified and understandable manner.

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