What are the specific electronic properties that make an atom ferromagnetic versus simply paramagnetic?

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Kyler Crawford · Accepted Answer

Ferromagnetism isn&#039;t a property of a single atom or molecule, but rather of the crystalline structure of a given material. It emerges due to alignment of magnetic moments of neighboring atoms in the crystalline structure.This is why ferromagnetic properties disappear above Curie temperature when alignment of magnetic moments of the atoms begins to decrease.Properties of the crystalline structure are also the reason why some materials with high concentration of iron are ferromagnetic while others aren&#039;t. For example, stainless steel with austenite crystalline structure is a nonmagnetic material, while steel with martensite or ferrite structure is ferromagnetic.

bedblogi38am · Accepted Answer

It may depend, but generally ferromagnetism originates from the exchange interaction. If due to some reason exchange interaction &quot;works&quot;, you end up with magnetic structure: ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, etc. If magnetic ions do not feel each other enough, you end up with paramagnetic. It is not the property of the atom or molecule. It is a property of the structure these atoms form.

What are the specific electronic properties that make an atom

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