Which one of the following is not a ferromagnetic material? 

The correct answer is  Silver.

Key PointsFerromagnetic Materials

• Ferromagnetism is a physical phenomenon in which a material can exhibit a spontaneous magnetization, and it is one of the strongest forms of magnetism.
• Materials that are known to be ferromagnetic include Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), and Nickel (Ni) along with some of their alloys and certain rare earth metals.
• Ferromagnetic materials have domains in which the magnetic moments are aligned in the same direction. When these materials are placed in an external magnetic field, these domains become aligned, making the material magnetized.
• Silver, however, is not ferromagnetic. Silver is classified as a diamagnetic material, which means it tends to become magnetized in a direction opposite to that of the magnetic field applied but with a very weak intensity. Therefore, it does not retain magnetization in the absence of an external magnetic field.
• Ferric chloride, although not a pure metal, can exhibit magnetic properties due to the presence of iron, but it is not inherently a strong ferromagnetic material like pure Iron, Cobalt, or Nickel.
• Hence, Silver is not a ferromagnetic material.

Additional Information

• In the context of electromagnetism, materials are broadly classified into several types based on their magnetic properties: ferromagnetic, paramagnetic, diamagnetic, and antiferromagnetic materials.
• Ferromagnetic materials are highly attracted to magnets and can become permanent magnets themselves when exposed to a magnetic field.
• Paramagnetic materials, like aluminum and platinum, are weakly attracted to magnets and do not retain magnetic properties once the external field is removed.
• Diamagnetic materials, such as silver and gold, are weakly repelled by both poles of a magnet and do not retain any magnetization.
• Antiferromagnetic materials have magnetic moments that are aligned in opposite directions, resulting in no overall magnetization.
• The study of these materials and their properties is crucial in various applications, including electronics, data storage, medical imaging, and automotive sensors.