paramagnetic
Meaning
(of a substance) weakly attracted by a magnet but not retaining any permanent magnetism.
Structure
Usage
Oxygen is a well-known paramagnetic gas.
The researcher measured the paramagnetic susceptibility of the new alloy.
Unlike iron, aluminum is only paramagnetic and cannot be made into a permanent magnet.
Etymology
The term 'paramagnetic' is a modern scientific compound formed in the 19th century. It combines the Greek prefix 'para-' (beside, near) with the adjective 'magnetic'. The construction follows a pattern in physics and chemistry where 'para-' indicates a secondary or parallel form of interaction. Literally, it describes a substance whose magnetic behavior is "beside" or "similar to but distinct from" that of a purely ferromagnetic material. Specifically, paramagnetic materials are weakly attracted to magnetic fields because their unpaired atomic dipoles align with an external field, but this alignment is temporary and disappears when the field is removed, distinguishing them from ferromagnetic (permanently magnetic) and diamagnetic (weakly repelled) substances.
Analysis
- para: A prefix of Greek origin (from παρά, pará), meaning "beside," "near," or "alongside." In scientific terminology, it often denotes something that is analogous to, or deviating from, the standard form. - magnetic: An adjective of Greek origin (via Latin magneticus), derived from magnēs (magnet), referring to the properties of a magnet or magnetism.