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Microscale Demonstration of the Paramagnetism of Liquid Oxygen with a Neodymium Magnet

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Bruce Mattson

Department of Chemistry, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178-0104

Douglas Mulford

Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322-2210

J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (8), p 1296

DOI: 10.1021/ed084p1296

Publication Date (Web): August 1, 2007

Section:

History, Education, and Documentation

Abstract

When a neodymium magnet is brought near a suspended small glass tube (2.5 mL) containing 2 mmol (64 mg) liquid oxygen, the tube is attracted to the magnet demonstrating oxygen's paramagnetism. Larger quantities of liquid oxygen can be produced in a similar fashion using a food storage bag filled with oxygen in place of a 60 mL syringe used to condense 2 mmol oxygen. On the larger scale, the blue color of liquid oxygen is readily observable by students.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Demonstrations

Keywords (Feature):

JCE DigiDemos: Tested Demonstrations

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives

Keywords (Subject):

Descriptive Chemistry

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

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