Are there liquids that are magnetic?

Answer

The term “magnetic” is not that accurate. Some substances become slightly magnetic (attracted) in the presence of an external magnetic field. These are the so-called paramagnetic substances. Other substances react very strongly to magnetic fields. These are the so-called ferromagnetic materials. Iron, nickel and cobalt are such typical highly magnetic materials. But not all metal is (ferro) magnetic. To be magnetic, the atoms must have a dipole (eg an odd number of electrons). Some ferromagnetic materials can also become permanent magnets, if they themselves have a permanent intrinsic magnetic field, without the need for an external magnetic field. In this case, the dipoles are all in approximately the same orientation. When ferromagnetic metal melts, it liquefies and continues to respond to (be attracted or repelled by) a magnetic field. However, it can no longer maintain its own intrinsic magnetic field. A molten permanent magnet no longer has its own magnetic field but still reacts to external magnetic fields. In a liquid, the atomic dipoles are no longer fixed in a certain orientation. With a trick you can make even more magnetic liquids (than molten metal). When very small (nano) ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic particles are dissolved in a liquid, you can make very spectacular magnetic liquids. Just type in Google and YouTube: ferrofluid.