Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Diamagnetism is present in all substances, but in most of them the effect is very weak.
Statement II: Gadolinium, like aluminium and sodium, is a paramagnetic element.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
Every substance shows some diamagnetism, but the effect is usually weak. Gadolinium is a ferromagnetic element, not a paramagnetic one.
Statement I Diamagnetism is present in all substances, but in most of them the effect is very weak. — True. All substances show this weak effect. In most of them, stronger effects such as paramagnetism or ferromagnetism hide it. A substance like bismuth or copper has no such stronger effect, so it behaves as diamagnetic.
Statement II Gadolinium, like aluminium and sodium, is a paramagnetic element. — False. Aluminium and sodium are paramagnetic, but gadolinium is not. Gadolinium is a ferromagnetic element, like iron, cobalt and nickel. So it is strongly attracted to a magnet.
NCERT (2026-27):
Diamagnetism – “… Diamagnetism is present in all the substances. However, the effect is so weak in most cases that it gets shifted by other effects like paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, etc.”
Ferromagnetism – “… There are a number of elements, which are ferromagnetic: iron, cobalt, nickel, gadolinium, etc. …”