Is Copper Magnetic? Yes or NO – Here is the ANSWER!

Copper is the most popular material due to its specific properties. Its excellent electrical conductivity, lightweight, and durability make it stand out. Its magnetism seems to be confusing for many. However, knowing this property is key when choosing copper to make any product. So, people ask: Is copper magnetic?

 

The short answer is NO! Copper is a non-magnetic material. When placed close to a magnet, it does not stick. Instead, it slightly repels the magnet, making it a strong diamagnetic material. This property is due to its paired electrons within respective orbitals.

 

This quick answer is not enough to understand why copper is non-magnetic. In this article, I will explain the material and its magnetic behavior. Reading this piece until the end will help determine whether this material suits your project. So, let’s get started!

 

What Does It Mean for a Material to Be Magnetic?

Before discussing the magnetic behavior of copper, let’s first understand magnetism.

 

Magnetism is the behavior of a material that makes it attract or repel when it comes close to a magnet. If a material sticks to a magnet, it is magnetic. On the other hand, if the material does not stick to the magnet, it is non-magnetic. Each material can exhibit different magnetic behavior depending on many factors.

 

Each material has electrons in the orbitals. If those electrons are paired, the material will have no magnetic behavior. The reason is that the magnetic moment produced by the spin will be canceled out. Similarly, a material with unpaired electrons in the original state will show magnetic behavior. 

 

There are different types of magnetism. A material exhibiting each type will behave differently when it comes close to the magnet. Those types are as follows:

• Ferromagnetism
• Paramagnetism
• Diamagnetism

 

Ferromagnetic materials show attraction towards magnets. When they come close to a magnet, they stick to it. An example of such a material is iron. On the other hand, paramagnetic materials show very weak attraction when they come close to the magnet. 

 

Aluminum is a prime example of such a material. The last type is diamagnetism. The material exhibiting this behavior doesn’t show any attraction or love for the magnet. Copper is a diamagnetic material. It shows a minor repulsion when it comes close to the magnet. This material has paired electrons in respective orbitals.

 

Is Copper Magnetic? If Not, WHY?

Copper is non-magnetic and shows no attraction when it comes close to magnetic. Let’s discuss the logic behind its non-magnetic behavior.

 

As I said, the magnetism is produced by the magnetic moment. This magnetic moment is the result of the spinning of electrons. Each electron has a spin. Got it? The copper has 29 electrons, and most orbitals have paired electrons. Each electron has its spin, but the spin direction is opposite to that of its neighboring electron.

 

For example, if one electron has spin directed upward, the second electron will be directed downward. These opposite spins of the electrons cancel each other. Due to the cancellation of spin, the magnetic moment is not produced. Due to this, the copper becomes non-magnetic. You might say that the 4s orbital has one unpaired electron. 

 

You are right, but this single electron does not produce an intense magnetic moment. For magnetism, the small magnetic moments must line up in the direction of the magnetic field. However, the single unpaired produces a magnetic moment, which is very weak. It cannot align and induce magnetism. Therefore, despite having one unpaired electron, copper material is non-magnetic.

 

Does Magnet Stick to Copper?

No, copper material does not stick to the magnet. Even if you place copper on a magnet instead of just bringing it nearby, it still won’t stick to the magnet. As I said earlier, the material must be magnetic to stick with the magnet. But the copper has paired electrons, and no strong magnetic moment is produced. 

 

Another myth is that copper sticks to a magnet under an artificial magnetic field. This myth is wrong, and it confuses users. Under a powerful magnetic field, the copper becomes slightly (minor) magnetic. It shows a minimal magnetic attraction. It does not stick to the magnetic field even under such a strong magnetic field. 

 

Once you remove the magnetic field, the copper becomes 100% non-magnetic. The effect of a strong magnetic field makes it magnetic to a very small extent. But this magnetism (attraction) is small, unnoticeable, and negligible. Therefore, copper is believed to be non-magnetic under all conditions. So it won’t stick to the magnet under any conditions.

 

Factors that Affect the Magnetism of Copper

 

Copper is non-magnetic. However, its magnetic behavior can change under certain conditions. The section below will discuss factors that can affect copper’s magnetism. 

 

1- Temperature

 

At normal temperatures, copper is 100% non-magnetic. It shows no love for magnets at all. However, its behavior changes to a small extent when the temperature increases. At a normal rise in temperature, the copper remains diamagnetic. However, if the temperature increases very strongly, then the electrons of copper become energetic. 

 

They absorb the energy and become excited. As a result, their movement becomes more prominent. During this stage of very high temperature, their behavior toward the magnetic field changes. So, they can show small magnetic behavior and stick to the magnetic. However, when the temperature decreases, the energy of electrons reduces. 

 

This results in no extensive movement and vibration of the electrons. This results in non-magnetism in the copper. Remember, this rise in temperature is very challenging to achieve in real-world conditions. If someone tries to do it, the cost of increasing the temperature to that extent would be very high.

 

2- Alloy Element

 

Copper, in its pure form, is non-magnetic. However, its alloy can show magnetic behavior depending on the alloy elements. Generally, manufacturers mix copper with other elements to get the desired properties. For example, copper is mixed with zinc to make brass. This new material (brass) offers more durability than pure copper. 

 

Similarly, manufacturers add nickel, tin, and other alloy elements to obtain desired properties. Those elements can have different properties. For example, nickel is magnetic. When it is mixed with copper, it induces a slight magnetism into copper. But this magnetism is very small and negligible. 

 

3- Impurities

 

The production of copper undergoes different processing. During that period, impurities can mistakenly mix with the copper. This unwanted addition of material to the copper can alter its magnetic properties. For example, if the iron in the form of an impurity mixes with pure copper. 

 

Iron has unpaired electrons and a powerful magnetic field, which induces magnetism into copper. Therefore, manufacturers ensure that impurities are not mixed during the production process. You can also use magnetic to check if your copper is pure or impure. If copper sticks to magnetic, it is impure, and vice versa.

 

4- Stress & Hammering

 

When pure copper undergoes stress, its atomic structures are disrupted. This results in a change in the atomic (electronic) configuration. For example, if you have a copper object and hit it with a hammer. This hitting must be very forceful and intense. 

 

This will create a movement of electrons and affect their distribution. Some electrons produce magnetic moments when randomly moving, as their spin does not cancel out. But this happens under extreme stress or hammering. Moreover, it is a short-term magnetic behavior. This method of inducing magnetic fields is not practical for real-world operations.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Is copper magnetic or non-magnetic?

No, copper is 100% non-magnetic. Even under strong magnetic fields, it shows no attraction to the magnet. This behavior makes it an excellent option for electronics and other devices.

 

Can copper ever become magnetic?

Practically, NO! There are a few ways to induce magnetism in copper. However, those ways are impractical and impossible in the real world. For example, achieving a very high temperature to make copper magnetic temporarily is not feasible.

 

Are all metals magnetic, like copper?

No, each metal exhibits different magnetic behavior depending on its electronic configuration. For example, nickel and iron are magnetic because they have unpaired electrons. On the other hand, copper and gold are non-magnetic and don’t stick to the magnet.

 

Conclusion

 

Copper has many favorable properties, making it a perfect option for CNC machining. However, copper is the most stubborn material when it comes to magnetism. It remains non-magnetic in all conditions and doesn’t stick to the magnet. 

 

A few ways can induce magnetism in it for a very short period. However, this induction of magnetism is not very effective for manufacturing processes. In this article, I discussed everything regarding copper’s non-magnetism. Remember, its non-magnetic behavior does not make it an inferior option.