Why Do Magnets Ignore Real Gold and Silver?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do magnets ignore real gold and silver?

The Big Idea

Gold and silver are beautiful, but magnets just ignore them. These shiny metals are not magnetic at all. Let's find out why, and why a magnet cannot prove jewelry is real.

Not Magnetic Metals

Step one: not magnetic metals. Gold, silver, aluminum, and copper are not magnetic. A magnet feels almost no pull from them.

Electrons Do Not Line Up

Step two: electrons do not line up. In these metals, the electrons are arranged in ways that do not line up with a magnet's field. So there is almost no pull at all.

Tricky Jewelry

Step three: tricky jewelry. Jewelry clasps or inner parts may be steel, so a magnet sometimes sticks to those. A magnet cannot prove that jewelry is real, because many fake metals also ignore magnets.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Gold does not stick to magnets. Silver does not stick either. A steel clasp might stick. So a magnet cannot prove a ring is real.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Pure iron is much more magnetic than any common jewelry metal. Gold and silver are not magnetic. Clasps and inner parts might be steel. Many fake metals ignore magnets too.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, test a magnet on jewelry, a key, and a metal button. Write which parts stuck. Write which parts did not. Be careful with valuable jewelry. Write down what you notice, and share it with a grown-up.

Outro

Gold and silver are not magnetic, so magnets ignore them, but a magnet cannot prove jewelry is real. Science is amazing! Keep asking questions! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!