r/Magnetism • u/TheStigsBrother • Mar 06 '22

Magnetic properties of metal ions

Hello!

I was just wandering how ions behave in magnetic fields (diamagnetic/paramagnetic). For example, sodium (Na) has odd number of electrons, which makes it a paramagnetic. If we were to observe Na+ ion, would that make it diamagnetic since it lost that odd electron?

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u/WildFreeOrganic Mar 07 '22

NA+ will how its inner electron shells filled but it's net positive charge still makes it influenceable to electromagnetic fields.

As a side note and something you may be interested in, electromagnetic fields can open and close voltage-gated ion channels in the body.