How is an un-magnetized piece of iron different from the same piece of iron when it is magnetized?

Question

How is an un-magnetized piece of iron different from the same piece of iron when it is magnetized?

Answer 1

what r u talking about? isn't iron alwayz magnetic?

Answer 2

When Iron becomes magnetised; the iron crystals become aligned with the magnetic field that magnetises them.  If the iron is un-magnetised; the crystals are in random orientation.

Of course; even un-magnetised iron is susceptible to attraction to a magnetic field; but will not attract another piece of un-magnetised iron towards it.

If you want to magnetise a nail, for instance; stroke it with a magnet in the same direction fo a while; to align some of the crystals.