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Molecular magnetism
Today we believe that
moving electric charges and intrinsic spin of electric
charges produce magnetic field; in fact the belief is
that there is a direct connection between motion of
charges and magnetic field. But new studies indicate
that, a charged particle like electron has a standing
electric field and magnetic field at right angle
simultaneously (see
structure of electron) and motion of a charged
particle has no effect on its electric or magnetic
property. Each electron acts as a tiny magnet. When
electrons flow in a conductor, the "electron magnets"
will be aligned and this alignment creates a collective
magnetic field around the conductor. The flow of
electrons make them get aligned, otherwise there is no
any direct connection between motion of electrons and
the creation of magnetic field as per the current
belief.
In an atom because of the positive charge of the
nucleus, the electric field of an electron will be
directed to the nucleus and magnetic field will be
horizontal to the nucleus (see
structure of atom). Normally the magnetic fields of
electrons in a cluster of atoms is neutralised to each
other and the cluster creates little or does not create
net magnetic field around it. But in some atom cluster
because of some special type of bonding between its
atoms, a number of electron"s magnetic fields come
parallel. Such atom cluster produces a magnetic field
around it and becomes a magnetic domain. Similarly in
some molecules because of the similar kind of bonding
between its atoms, two or more electron's magnetic
fields become parallel and that region becomes a pole
and the molecule becomes magnetic.
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