Is Silver Magnetic or Non-Magnetic? [Quick Guide]

Is silver magnetic or not? This is a common question I receive from people new to metals. Remember, silver is a popular and widely used material in the creation of coins, jewelry, and other items. Knowing its magnetic properties helps us use it in the right parts and products.

 

There are many applications where the magnetism of the material matters the most. Magnetism simply refers to a material’s ability to attract a magnet. Interestingly, silver is a metal, but it does not show any magnetic behavior. It does not stick to the magnet and slightly repels it. In this article, I’ll discuss the logic behind its non-magnetic behavior.

 

Overview of Silver & Magnetism

Silver is a white, shiny material with an excellent visual appearance. This material is used to create a variety of decorative items. Its use is widespread in the production of jewelry and coins. It also comes with electrical conductivity. Due to this, the material is widely used in the manufacture of wires and other electrical components. 

 

Magnetism is a property in which a material either attracts or repels magnetic fields. If the material is magnetic, it would attract the magnets. On the other hand, if a metal is non-magnetic, it would not attract and can repel the magnetic. Every metal can exhibit different behavior depending on the number of unpaired electrons it has.

 

Remember, magnetic behavior is produced by a combination of magnetic moments. This magnetic moment is produced by the opposite spin of electrons in orbitals. Suppose a metal with unpaired electrons. These electrons will have a spin, which will produce a magnetic moment. This magnetic moment will induce magnetic behavior. 

 

Imagine a metal with no unpaired electrons. So, all the orbitals will have two electrons. The direction of spin of one electron would be up, and the other would be downward. Due to this, the electrons’ spins would cancel out. So, no magnetic moment will be produced, resulting in no magnetic behavior. 

 

Is Silver Magnetic? Explaining the Logic

No. The silver metal is non-magnetic as it has no unpaired electrons. Let’s understand the logic behind the non-magnetic behavior of silver.

 

As I mentioned earlier, magnetic behavior is induced by a combination of small magnetic moments. However, these magnetic moments are produced by the spinning of electrons in their orbitals. If orbitals have paired electrons, each electron will have spin but in the opposite direction. If the direction of spin of one electron is upward, the other will be downward. 

 

The opposite spins of electrons will cancel each other out. As a result, there will be no magnetic moment. In the case of silver, it has 47 electrons in total. However, all these electrons remain paired in their respective orbitals. The paired electrons’ spinning will be canceled out due to the opposite direction. So, there will be no magnetic moment.

 

There will be no small magnetic moments to align to create a magnetic effect. As a result, the silver remains non-magnetic. Even if there is a small magnetic moment, it would be tiny (negligible). So it won’t cause magnetism in this silver. Therefore, silver is classified as a diamagnetic material. It gently repels the magnetic field rather than showing any attraction.

 

Quick Highlight: The silver shows repulsion when it comes close to the magnetic field. However, this repulsion is very small (negligible). It cannot be seen with the naked eye. Only sensitive instruments can detect this repulsion when brought near the magnetic field.

 

Does Silver Stick to a Magnet?

 

The answer is a big NO!

 

The magnetic material can only stick to the magnet. If the material is non-magnetic, it won’t stick to the magnet. It can tend to repel the magnet to some extent. As said earlier, silver has paired electrons in its orbitals. So, a magnetic moment is not produced, resulting in no magnetic behavior. 

 

As copper is not magnetic, it won’t stick to a magnet. No matter how close you bring silver to the magnet, it won’t show any attraction to it. Many people use this behavior to identify the silver. For example, you have a material, and you have doubts whether it is silver or not. In this case, bring the material close to the magnet. If it sticks to a magnet, it is not silver.

 

Is Sterling Silver Magnetic?

Sterling silver is a popular material due to its premium look. It is widely used in jewelry. Many people believe this material is magnetic because it contains a small proportion of copper. This is incorrect, as sterling silver is non-magnetic. If you bring a magnet close to this material, it won’t stick to the magnet.

 

Sterling silver has 92.5% pure silver with a small proportion (around 7.5%) of copper. Remember, copper is a non-magnetic material. Its presence in the sterling does not make it magnetic. Due to the non-magnetic behavior of sterling, it is used in many applications. It is used to make parts where magnetic interference needs to be avoided.

 

Factors that Affect the Magnetic Property of Silver

 

The silver metal is non-magnetic and does not stick to the magnet. However, several factors can influence its magnetic behavior. In the section below, we’ll discuss those factors in detail.

 

1- Purity of Silver

First, silver, in its pure form, is non-magnetic. However, if the silver has any impurity, its magnetic properties can change. Imagine you have silver with a small proportion of nickel in it. This nickel is magnetic, and its presence can impart magnetism to silver. Similarly, if a non-magnetic material is present in silver, it would make the silver highly non-magnetic. 

 

2- Presence of Other Metals (Alloying)

Many elements can be present in the silver materials. This results in silver alloys with magnetic properties that can differ from those of pure silver. Imagine you have a silver alloy with iron material. Iron is magnetic and can impart magnetism to the silver as well. Similarly, the sterling silver alloy consists of 92.5% silver and approximately 7% copper. As this copper is non-magnetic, it makes sterling silver strongly non-magnetic. Nickel silver (also known as German silver) is a magnetic alloy due to the presence of nickel.

 

3- Temperature & Pressure

Generally, when the temperature is reduced, the material becomes magnetic. In the case of silver, this is true as silver becomes slightly magnetic at very low temperatures. However, the impact of temperature on silver is minimal (negligible). Even if you bring a magnet near silver at a low temperature, it won’t stick to it. When it comes to pressure, it does not affect the magnetic properties of silver.

 

How to Test If Silver Is Real?

 

The silver material is machined through different methods. Its CNC machining is also widespread and carried out on a large scale. Knowing its magnetism is key, as it helps determine whether the silver is pure or mixed with impurities. If it sticks to a magnet, it shows that silver is not pure and contains some magnetic impurities. Keep in mind that this material is also used in jewelry. 

 

In the market, some people apply white color to other materials. They make jewelry from that material and sell it to customers by branding it silver. This scam is gaining popularity because people are unaware of how to test silver for authenticity.  As I said earlier, silver is non-magnetic.

 

You can use this property of silver to check its authenticity. For this, bring the material (jewelry) near the magnet. If the material adheres to the magnet, it is likely fake and not genuine silver. Even if the material is slightly attracted to the magnet, consider it fake. The reason is that magnets repel silver materials.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Will a magnet stick to silver?

No, a magnet will never stick to silver. The reason is that silver is a non-magnetic material. It is a diamagnetic material and can slightly repel the magnet.

 

Why is my silver coin magnetic?

No, pure silver coins cannot be magnetic. If you have a coin and it is magnetic, it is not pure. It might consist of some impurity of nickel or iron. Silver mixed with iron becomes magnetic. Your coin will be made of a mixture of silver and iron.

 

Is some 925 silver magnetic?

No, 925 silver is not magnetic. 925 is another name for sterling silver, which is composed of 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. Both of these materials are non-magnetic. Therefore, sterling silver, or 925, remains non-magnetic in all conditions.

 

Are 90% silver coins magnetic?

No, silver is non-magnetic. However, if there is 90% silver and 10% iron, then we will obtain a silver-iron alloy. It can be magnetic. However, if 90% silver is mixed with a non-magnetic element, it would become non-magnetic.

 

Why is my silver slightly magnetic?

No, silver, in its purest form, is non-magnetic. If your silver is magnetic, it may contain impurities of nickel or iron. These impurities (material) are magnetic and impart this property to silver.

 

Conclusion

 

Silver is a versatile material with numerous applications in everyday life. From currency coins to electronics and jewelry, this material dominates everywhere. However, when it comes to the magnetic behavior of silver, many seem to be confused. 

 

The silver is non-magnetic in its pure form. It shows no attraction towards magnetic fields. However, if this material is mixed with iron, it can become magnetic. Certain factors can affect the magnetic behavior of silver. In this article, I’ve explained everything about silver magnetism in detail.