Question

Explain why transition metals are paramagnetic.

Answer 1

1. Transition metals have unpaired electrons in their (n − 1)d orbitals.
2. The presence of these unpaired electrons causes them to be attracted to magnetic fields, making them paramagnetic.
3. As you move across a transition series, the number of unpaired electrons increases, increasing paramagnetism till the middle of the series.
4. After the middle, the number of unpaired electrons decreases, so paramagnetism decreases.
5. Transition metals or ions with all paired electrons show diamagnetic behavior instead.

Thus, paramagnetism in transition metals arises due to their unpaired d-electrons, which generate magnetic moments attracted by external magnetic fields.