The New International Encyclopædia/Diamagnetism

​DIAMAGNETISM (from Gk. διά, dia, through + mάγνης, magnēs, magnet, from Μάγνης, Magnēs, Magnesian, from Μαγνησία, Magnésia, a city of Thessaly, in Greece, where magnetic stones abounded). A name given certain magnetic phenomena observed in the case of bismuth and some other substances. If a small piece of bismuth is brought near one pole of a strong magnet, it will be seen to be repelled. This is owing to two things: (1) the magnetic field at the end of the magnet is not uniform, being strong near the magnet and feeble at a distance; (2) the surrounding medium is air. If the field of magnetic force were uniform, there would be neither repulsion nor attraction, the piece of bismuth would simply turn and take up a definite position. Further, Faraday has shown that the question of attraction or repulsion depends not on the body itself, but on its magnetic properties with reference to those of the surrounding mediums. (See Magnetism.) Faraday showed that the following substances and a few others were diamagnetic when placed in air: bismuth, antimony, tin, zinc, cadmium, mercury, silver, copper, gold, lead, sulphur, sugar, wood, water, alcohol.

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