Are Zinc Fasteners Really Magnetic While Stainless Steel Isn't?

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SUMMARY

Zinc fasteners, often galvanized steel, exhibit magnetic properties due to their iron content, while stainless steel fasteners, particularly austenitic types, are typically non-magnetic. The magnetic behavior of materials is influenced by their atomic structure, with some stainless steels lacking ferromagnetic properties despite containing iron. Additionally, US nickels, composed of 75% copper and 25% nickel, are generally not magnetic, although a strong magnet may exert a noticeable force on them.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of ferromagnetism and magnetic materials
  • Knowledge of stainless steel types: austenitic vs. ferritic
  • Familiarity with galvanization processes in metal fasteners
  • Basic principles of magnetism and magnetic fields
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the differences between austenitic and ferritic stainless steel
  • Explore the galvanization process and its effects on metal properties
  • Study the principles of ferromagnetism and how it applies to different materials
  • Investigate the magnetic properties of various metal alloys, including US nickel
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Students and educators in materials science, metalworking professionals, and anyone interested in the properties of metals and magnetism.

SDTK
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I am putting together a hands on activity for ninth graders, which will include testing different materials to determine whether they are attracted to a magnet.
I have collected fasteners (screws, nails, bolts), and surprised that the fasteners I purchased labeled "zinc" are attracted to the magnet, but the "stainless" fasteners are not.
Can anyone offer insight?
---- Are zinc screws/bolts coated with magnetic material?
--- Does stainless steel not contain iron?
 
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SDTK said:
---- Are zinc screws/bolts coated with magnetic material?
Some materials are galvanized meaning that they are coated with a layer of zinc. The fasteners are probably made of steel and have been galvanized to prevent them from rusting.
SDTK said:
Does stainless steel not contain iron?
Some types of stainless steel are not magnetic while other types are. It depends on the atomic structure of the metal. The stainless steel you have is probably austenitic rather than ferritic stainless steel, so it is not magnetic.

Just because something contains iron does not make it magnetic. Rust in the form of Fe2O3 is barely magnetic, even though it is mostly iron.
 
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NFuller said:
Some materials are galvanized meaning that they are coated with a layer of zinc. The fasteners are probably made of steel and have been galvanized to prevent them from rusting.

Some types of stainless steel are not magnetic while other types are. It depends on the atomic structure of the metal. The stainless steel you have is probably austenitic rather than ferritic stainless steel, so it is not magnetic.

Just because something contains iron does not make it magnetic. Rust in the form of Fe2O3 is barely magnetic, even though it is mostly iron.
Thank you. This helps!

If I have a very strong magnet, could I possibly use it to attract a US nickle? ( The coins are 75% copper, 25% nickle)
 
SDTK said:
If I have a very strong magnet, could I possibly use it to attract a US nickle? ( The coins are 75% copper, 25% nickle)
Although nickel is a ferromagnetic metal, US nickels are not very magnetic. With a strong enough magnet however, you may be able to get a noticeable force on the coin.
 
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SDTK said:
Thank you. This helps!

If I have a very strong magnet, could I possibly use it to attract a US nickle? ( The coins are 75% copper, 25% nickle)

With a "very strong" magnetic field, you can even levitate a frog!

At this point, you should be having some quantitative numbers to consider if it can be done, rather than putting out unspecified possibilities. Anything in a strong enough magnetic field can be induced to have some amount of magnetization. But I doubt if you have anything approaching 4 Tesla sitting anywhere that you can easily access.

Zz.
 
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ZapperZ said:
With a "very strong" magnetic field, you can even levitate a frog!

At this point, you should be having some quantitative numbers to consider if it can be done, rather than putting out unspecified possibilities. Anything in a strong enough magnetic field can be induced to have some amount of magnetization. But I doubt if you have anything approaching 4 Tesla sitting anywhere that you can easily access.

Zz.
No, ... don't have anything that strong sitting around, but I may quote your frog comment to my students :-)
 
NFuller said:
Although nickel is a ferromagnetic metal, US nickels are not very magnetic. With a strong enough magnet however, you may be able to get a noticeable force on the coin.
thanks your comments are very helpful :-)
 
Suspend any small objects made from weakly magnetic material on threads .
 
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SDTK said:
If I have a very strong magnet, could I possibly use it to attract a US nickle? ( The coins are 75% copper, 25% nickle)

Magnetism is not a property of nickel atoms, but rather of bulk nickel. The alloy used in US nickel is quite non-magnetic.
 

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