No, a magnet will not stick to copper. If you’re wondering, “is copper magnetic?”—the answer is no. Copper is not magnetic and is diamagnetic. You can verify this using a magnet stick or by checking the table below:
| Property | Copper | Iron | Nickel | Aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Behavior | Non-magnetic | Magnetic | Magnetic | Non-magnetic |
Michael Faraday discovered in 1846 that copper is not magnetic. Magnetism behaves differently in copper compared to metals that are magnetic. This is why a magnet or a magnet stick does not stick to copper, and copper acts as a non-magnetic material.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
Copper is not magnetic and will not stick to magnets. This is because copper is diamagnetic. Diamagnetic means it gently pushes magnets away. It does not pull them close.
If a magnet moves near copper, it makes eddy currents. These eddy currents slow the magnet down. But they do not make copper magnetic. Copper will not attract the magnet.
Pure copper is always non-magnetic. But if copper is mixed with iron or nickel, it can act magnetic. This only happens when copper has magnetic metals in it.
Does Magnet Stick to Copper?
Is Copper Magnetic?
You might ask if copper is magnetic. The answer is no. Copper is a metal that does not attract magnets. If you put a magnet stick near copper, it will not stick. This is because copper is not ferromagnetic. Ferromagnetic metals like iron and nickel pull magnets strongly. Copper is diamagnetic instead. Diamagnetic means copper pushes away magnetic fields, but this push is very weak. You need special tools to see it.
Let’s compare copper with other metals:
| Metal | Magnetic Susceptibility (approximate) | Magnetic Type |
|---|---|---|
| Copper | Negative, very small (~ -1 × 10⁻⁶) | Diamagnetic |
| Iron | Large positive (~ 200,000) | Ferromagnetic |
| Nickel | Large positive (~ 600) | Ferromagnetic |
Copper’s magnetic susceptibility is negative and tiny. Iron and nickel have much bigger numbers. This means copper is not magnetic and only pushes away magnets a little.
Magnetism of Copper
Magnetism comes from how electrons move and spin in atoms. In copper, almost all electrons are paired. Their spins cancel each other out. So, copper has no strong magnetic moment. That is why copper is not magnetic. Copper’s electron setup is [Ar] 3d10 4s1. There is one unpaired electron in the 4s spot, but it is very weak. Copper does not make magnetic domains like iron or nickel. Without these domains, copper cannot be magnetic or attract a magnet stick.
Here are some key facts about copper’s atoms and magnetism:
- Copper atoms have full electron shells, so no unpaired electrons can line up with a magnetic field.
- No unpaired electrons means copper is not magnetic.
- Copper’s diamagnetic effect is very weak and hard to see.
- Pure copper only shows weak diamagnetism, but copper mixed with ferromagnetic metals can act differently.
If you look at other diamagnetic materials, copper’s diamagnetism is like water and a bit stronger than silver or gold.
| Material | Relative Permeability (μr) |
|---|---|
| Copper | ~0.99999 |
| Water | ~0.99999 |
| Silver | ~0.99998 |
| Gold | ~0.99996 |
| Bismuth | ~0.99983 |
Common Misconceptions About Copper and Magnets
Many people think copper is magnetic or that a magnet stick will stick to copper. This is not correct. Here are some myths and the real facts:
- Some believe copper is magnetic because magnets do things with copper in experiments.
- When a magnet slows down in a copper tube, it is because of eddy currents, not copper being magnetic.
- Eddy currents make a magnetic field that pushes against the magnet, so it slows down or floats for a moment.
- If you slide a magnet on copper, you will not feel it pull. You might feel resistance if the magnet moves, but that is from eddy currents.
- Copper is not magnetic, so it does not stick to magnets in normal situations.
- Some products say copper helps with magnetic water treatment, but there is no proof that copper itself is magnetic.
Tip: Try dropping a magnet through a copper pipe at home. The magnet falls slowly but never sticks to the copper. This shows copper is not magnetic, but it can interact with moving magnets because of eddy currents.
How Does Magnetism Work in Different Materials?
To know why copper is not magnetic, you should learn how materials react to magnets:
- Ferromagnetic materials like iron and nickel pull magnets strongly and can keep their magnetism.
- Paramagnetic materials like aluminum pull magnets a little, but only when the magnet is close.
- Diamagnetic materials like copper, water, and bismuth push magnets away weakly and do not keep magnetism.
| Property | Diamagnetic Materials | Paramagnetic Materials | Ferromagnetic Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Response | Push magnetic fields away | Weakly pull magnetic fields | Strongly pull magnetic fields |
| Attraction to Magnet Poles | Pushed by both poles | Slightly pulled to one pole | Strongly pulled to both poles |
| Magnetic Moment | No lasting magnetic moment | Atoms have lasting magnetic moments | Atoms have lasting magnetic moments |
| Magnetization Retention | Lose magnetism when magnet is gone | Lose magnetism when magnet is gone | Keep magnetism even after magnet is gone |
Copper is a diamagnetic material. This means it is always not magnetic and will not stick to a magnet stick.
Educational Demonstrations
You can see copper is not magnetic with these easy activities:
- Drop a magnet inside a copper tube. The magnet will not stick but will fall slowly.
- Slide a magnet on a flat copper surface. You will not feel any pull.
- Swing a magnet near a copper sheet. The magnet stops moving quickly, but it does not stick.
These activities show copper is not magnetic, but it can interact with moving magnets because of eddy currents.
Magnetism and Copper Interactions
Electromagnetic Induction
Magnetism shows up when you move a magnet near copper. Michael Faraday found that moving a magnet inside copper wire makes electricity. The magnetic field changes as the magnet moves. If you move the magnet faster, you get more current. Lenz’s law says the current tries to stop the change. Dropping a magnet through a copper tube makes eddy currents in the copper. These currents make a magnetic field that pushes against the magnet stick. Moving the magnet turns motion into electricity.
Tip: Wrapping more copper wire coils gives a bigger current. If you flip the magnet’s poles, the current goes the other way.
Magnet Stick Effects
A magnet stick does not attract copper, but strange things happen. Eddy currents cause these effects. When a magnet falls through a copper pipe, the magnetic field changes fast. This change makes eddy currents in the copper. Eddy currents create a magnetic field that pushes back on the magnet. The magnet slows down and may look like it floats. This is called induction braking. You can test this at home with a copper tube and a strong magnet. The magnet will not stick, but it falls slowly.
- An eddy current pendulum with a copper paddle stops fast between magnets.
- A magnet can float between copper blocks because of damping.
- Dropping a magnet on a cold copper block makes it fall slower.
Alloys and Impurities
Is copper always non-magnetic? Pure copper is never magnetic. Mixing copper with iron or nickel can make it magnetic. Copper-iron and copper-nickel-iron alloys show magnetism because iron and nickel are magnetic. Brass and bronze are copper alloys but stay non-magnetic. Zinc and tin do not add magnetism. Some copper alloys, like nickel aluminum bronze, can be weakly magnetic because of nickel. Impurities in copper can also make it a little magnetic. Always check the alloy type to see if a magnet stick will work.
| Material Type | Magnetic Behavior | Reason for Magnetic Behavior |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Copper | Diamagnetic | Electrons mostly paired; single unpaired electron insufficient to create magnetism |
| Brass | Non-magnetic | Zinc alloying element has paired electrons, no magnetism |
| Bronze | Non-magnetic | Tin alloying element cancels magnetic spins |
| Beryllium Copper | Non-magnetic | Beryllium does not introduce unpaired electrons |
| Copper-Iron Alloy | Magnetic | Iron introduces unpaired electrons and magnetic domains |
| Copper-Nickel-Iron | Magnetic | Nickel and iron create magnetic domains |
You have learned that magnets do not stick to copper. Copper is not a magnetic material. It pushes magnets away instead of pulling them. Iron is a magnetic metal and acts differently. Magnetic separation helps people sort metals when recycling. Copper’s magnetic properties are useful in many ways:
- Magnetic shielding protects electronics from outside forces
- Trains use magnetic braking to slow down safely
- Magnetic safety tools help keep workers safe in dangerous places
- Copper wiring can lower magnetic interference
FAQ
Can you make copper magnetic at home?
You cannot make copper magnetic at home. Copper always stays non-magnetic. Only special metals like iron or nickel can become magnetic.
Why does a magnet slow down in a copper tube?
When you drop a magnet through a copper tube, the moving magnet creates electric currents in the copper. These currents push back and slow the magnet.
Is copper safe to use near magnets?
Yes, you can safely use copper near magnets. Copper does not attract magnets or become magnetic, so it will not affect most magnetic devices.