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Paramagnetism: Compounds - Potassium Hexacyanoferrate(II)

A sample of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II),K4Fe(CN)6, is shown to be diamagnetic.

Vials of a number of compounds (NaCl, MnSO4, FeSO4, CoCl2, NiSO4, ZnSO4, K4Fe(CN)6, [Co(NH3)6]Cl3, [Ni(NH3)6]Cl2, and H2O) are hung from a thread. When a magnet is brought near, some of the vials are attracted. A ruler is used to measure the deflection of the thread from the vertical, which correlates with the number of unpaired electrons.

Credits: 
  • Design and Demonstration
    • Frederick Mattes Hastings College, Hastings, NE 68902
  • Video
    • Jerrold J. Jacobsen University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
  • Text
    • Frederick Mattes Hastings College, Hastings, NE 68902
    • Kelly Houston Jetzer University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
    • John W. Moore University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706