What metals are resistant to attraction by neodymium magnets?

What attracts a magnet?

A magnet attracts objects made of ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, and their alloys. These metals contain magnetic domains that can be easily aligned in the presence of an external magnetic field, causing them to be attracted by the magnet. Additionally, some alloys of rare earth metals and some iron alloys can also be attracted by magnets, although their magnetic properties may be weaker compared to pure ferromagnetic metals. Not all metals are magnetic; for example, copper, aluminum, and gold are not attracted by magnets.

Does a magnet attract gold?

A magnet does not attract gold because gold is a diamagnetic material, meaning it does not react to magnets. If you apply a magnet to gold items such as earrings, rings, or bracelets, and they remain motionless, you can be sure they are made of real, full-value gold. Gold items should not show any reaction to a magnet.
In the case of gold combined with other metals, the reaction to a magnet can vary depending on the metal used. Gold is often combined with other metals to increase its strength, as pure gold is soft and prone to deformation. For example, if gold is combined with metals such as titanium, platinum, palladium, or nickel, which are paramagnetics, they may attract a magnet to a small extent. However, gold combined with diamagnetics, such as silver or copper, will still not react to a magnet.
It is important to remember that the fact that a metal attracts a magnet does not mean that the jewelry is less valuable. For example, palladium and platinum attract magnets, but they are precious metals. Therefore, in addition to the magnetic test, it is also important to interview the jeweler and make sure they have the appropriate documents confirming the authenticity of the jewelry and a list of metals contained in the ornament.

What attracts gold?

Gold itself is not attracted by a magnet because it is a diamagnetic metal. Diamagnetics are a type of material that does not show a strong reaction to an external magnetic field. In the case of gold, it neither attracts nor is attracted by magnets.

However, gold can be attracted by other forces and methods, such as:
Gravity: Like all objects, gold is attracted by gravity.
Chemical Reactions: Gold can participate in chemical reactions with some substances, which can be misinterpreted as 'attraction'.
Mechanical Connections: Gold can be attached or connected to other materials that are magnetic or have the ability to attract in another way.

It is worth remembering that when testing the authenticity of gold using a magnet, its lack of reaction (not attracting the magnet) can be one of the indicators that it is real gold. However, if gold is combined with other, magnetic metals, it may exhibit some magnetic attraction.

Does a magnet attract silver?

A magnet does not attract silver, as silver is a diamagnetic metal. Like gold, silver does not exhibit a strong reaction to external magnetic fields. Diamagnetics are a type of material that generates a very weak magnetic field counteracting the external magnetic field, but this effect is so weak that in practice silver is not attracted by magnets.
If a silver object is attracted by a magnet, it may indicate that it is not made solely of pure silver, but contains other metals that are magnetic. This is one of the methods used to check the authenticity of silver items.

Does brass attract a magnet?

There are many metals that do not react to a magnetic field - a magnet does not attract them.
Here are some examples:

Copper (Cu) - is a chemical element from the group of transition metals, denoted by the symbol Cu. Copper is commonly used in various industries, such as electrical engineering, construction, and jewelry.

Aluminum (Al) - is a chemical element from the group of non-ferrous metals, denoted by the symbol Al. Aluminum is often used in the production of aluminum cans, cars, or ships.

Zinc (Zn) - is a chemical element from the group of transition metals, denoted by the symbol Zn. Zinc is used in the production of coins, but also in various industrial applications, such as galvanizing elements or paint production.

Magnesium (Mg) - is a chemical element from the group of rare earth metals, denoted by the symbol Mg. Magnesium is often used in industry, such as the production of magnesium or magnesium alloys.

Tin (Sn) - is a chemical element from the group of non-metallic metals, denoted by the symbol Sn. Tin is used in the production of solder or tin alloys.

Lead (Pb) - is a chemical element from the group of non-metallic metals, denoted by the symbol Pb. Lead is often used in the production of lead pipes or electronic components.

Brass (CuZn) - is an alloy of copper and zinc, denoted by the symbol CuZn. Brass is often used in the industry, such as the production of decorative elements or fittings.

Bronze (CuSn) - is an alloy of copper and tin, denoted by the symbol CuSn. Bronze is used in various industrial applications, such as the production of machine parts or bearings, and in everyday life like the production of decorations, bronze door handles, or watches.

Stainless and Acid-Resistant steels

Stainless steels are special types of steel that are characterized by high resistance to corrosion and rusting. They are very popular in various industries, such as automotive, construction, or the food industry.

The SI designations for stainless steel commonly include:
304 - austenitic stainless steel, containing about 18% chromium and 8% nickel
316 - austenitic stainless steel, containing about 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum
430 - ferritic stainless steel (attracts a magnet!), containing about 16-18% chromium.

In terms of magnetism, stainless steel is a metal not attracted by magnets. This is due to the presence of chromium and nickel in the chemical composition of these steels, which cause the absence of magnetic moments in the atomic structure.

Acid-Resistant Steels - Dental

Another type of steel is acid-resistant steel, which is particularly resistant to the effects of acids and other aggressive chemicals. They are often used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, or petrochemical industries.

The SI designations for acid-resistant steel commonly include:
316L - austenitic acid-resistant steel, containing about 16% chromium, 10% nickel, and 2% molybdenum,
317L - austenitic acid-resistant steel, containing about 18% chromium, 11% nickel, and 3% molybdenum,
904L - austenitic acid-resistant steel, containing about 19-23% chromium, 23% nickel, 4% molybdenum, and 1% carbon.

Like stainless steels, acid-resistant steels are also not attracted by magnets due to the presence of chromium, nickel, and other elements that prevent the formation of magnetic moments.

Unlike the aforementioned metals, those that are attracted by magnets include iron, nickel, and cobalt.
These metals are referred to as ferromagnetic because they have components that cause them to be strongly attracted by magnets. Iron is one of the strongest ferromagnets, therefore it is often used in various industries, such as automotive and construction. Nickel is also a strong ferromagnet and is frequently used in the electronic and electrical engineering industries. Cobalt is also a strong ferromagnet and is used in various applications such as plastics, paints, and medicine.

Rare earth metals, applications

One of the most important applications of rare earth metals is the production of permanent magnets. These magnets are used in a wide range of applications, from electric motors to audio and video equipment. Neodymium is one of the most important elements used in the production of permanent magnets, due to its strong magnetic properties. Adding neodymium to magnetic alloys increases their maximum magnetic field, thereby improving their performance. However, the process of extracting and refining rare earth metals is very costly and has a negative impact on the environment, prompting the industry to seek alternative sources of permanent magnets that use less expensive and more environmentally friendly materials.
Rare earth metals are a group of chemical elements, consisting of 15 elements. These are: scandium, ytterbium, lutetium, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, and yttrium.
These metals are called 'rare earths' because they occur in the Earth's crust in smaller quantities than metals such as iron or copper. They are found in numerous minerals, and their extraction is difficult and expensive.
Rare earth metals have many industrial applications, including in the production of permanent magnets, batteries, LED lamps, catalysts, optical glass, ceramics, and even in drug production.
Some of the most important elements from the group of rare earth metals include:
Neodymium: used in the production of permanent magnets, LED lamps, and in the production of optical glass.
Europium: used in the production of fluorescent lamps and optical glass.
Dysprosium: used in the production of permanent magnets and catalysts.
Cerium: used in the production of fluorescent lamps, batteries, and catalysts.
Gadolinium: used in the production of permanent magnets and in the production of optical glass.
Lutetium: used in the production of batteries and in the production of optical glass.
Ytterbium: used in the production of catalysts and in scientific research.
Terbium: used in the production of permanent magnets and in the production of optical glass.
Holmium: used in the production of permanent magnets.