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The magnetic moment of a diamagnetic atom is

Asked in AIPMT 2010 Mains · Dia, para and ferromagnetism

Answer: (4) equal to zero

Step-by-step solution

Idea: what makes an atom diamagnetic is the arrangement of its electrons, not the strength of its response.

In a diamagnetic atom every electron is paired with another of opposite spin.

The orbital and spin moments of each pair cancel exactly.

So the atom has no permanent magnetic moment: it is zero.

Diamagnetism appears only when a field is applied, as an induced moment opposing that field.

Why the other options are wrong

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