How does the arrangement of electrons in a magnet compare to metals that are not metallic?

Question

How does the arrangement of electrons in a magnet compare to metals that are not metallic?

Answer 1

Domains are goup of atoms having same properties, like orientation, etc which determine their magnetic properties.

In magnetic objects, domains get aligned in a single direction under the influence of ext. mag. field and thus the object has a unidirectional behaviour=> becomes magnetised.

In non-metallic objects, domains get aligned in random directions even under the influence of ext. mag. field. Only very few domains get influenced because they are very large(bulky) with many atoms having same properties in case of non-magnetics like non metals and thus the object has no magnetic behaviour as the linear alignment of domains becomes difficult.

Answer 2

You would think that we understood this, but in fact, we do not. We have some insights and some cclues, but no clear understanding.

We dounderstand a bit about how domains are formed and how they 'function', but not much about the dynamics within the electon shells that makes a metal magnetic or not magnetic.

There is a site that probably explains more than you want

(:http://my.execpc.com/~rhoadley/magwhy.ht... )

But here is an excerpt:

If we were to examine Iron (atomic number 26), Cobalt (27), Nickel (28) and Gadolinium (64), all of which are considered ferromagnetic since they are strongly attracted to a magnet, it is difficult to see what makes them so different from the other elements next to them or below them in the periodic table.  In other words, if Iron is so strongly magnetic, why isn't Manganese?  Perhaps there are other factors we need to take into account such as the crystalline structure.  But it is generally accepted that these ferromagnetic elements have large magnetic moments due to un-paired electrons in their outer orbitals.  This is like having current flowing in a coil of wire, creating a magnetic field.  Even the spin of the electron is thought to create a minute magnetic field.  When you get a bunch of these fields together, they add up to bigger fields.

Answer 3

Magnetic materials are ferrous, the electron arrangements will be similar to those of iron.

Answer 4

Very different configuration.  Most all metals are metallic, maybe you meant how do the electrons in a magnet compare to metals that aren't magnetic. In any event in chemistry 101 the distribution of atom configurations is explained in quite basic detail as to the known information on these matters. More advance understanding is available through most College level books and/or teachings.