Magnetic susceptibility X of a given material is −0.5. Identify the magnetic material.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Diamagnetic
The magnetic susceptibility \( \chi \) tells how strongly a material is magnetised by a field, \( \vec{M} = \chi\vec{H} \). Its sign decides the class of material: a negative \( \chi \) means the material is magnetised opposite to the applied field.
NCERT (2026-27):
Magnetic Properties of Materials – “The discussion in the previous section helps us to classify materials as diamagnetic, paramagnetic or ferromagnetic. In terms of the susceptibility χ, a material is diamagnetic if χ is negative, para- if χ is positive and small, and ferro- if χ is large and positive.”