ScienceAugust 18, 2026

paramagnetic

par-uh-mag-NET-ik

Definition

Describes a material or substance that is weakly attracted by an external magnetic field due to the presence of unpaired electrons.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek prefix 'para-' meaning beside or beyond, and 'magnetic,' relating to the properties of magnets. The term was coined in the 19th century to describe substances that behave differently than ferromagnetic materials like iron.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe 'electron paramagnetic resonance,' a technique that identifies the local environment of unpaired electrons in biochar to understand its chemical behavior.

AI uncovers elemental clues behind persistent free radicals in biochar

Read the full article ↗

Bioengineer.org

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