DETERMINATION OF MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY BY QUINCKE’S METHOD

ABSTRACT:

The behavior of a substance in a magnetic field is characterized by magnetic

susceptibility. Quincke’s method is a very well known method in which the liquid is placed in a capillary
tube so that the meniscus stands in a strong magnetic field. By this experiment we can measure the
magnetic susceptibility (χ) of different solutions.

INTRODUCTION:

Magnetism is a class of physical phenomena that are mediated by magnetic fields.

Electric current and the magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to magnetic field. The
magnetic state of a material depends on temperature and other variables such as pressure and the
applied magnetic field. A material may exhibit more than one form of magnetism as these variables
change.

 TYPES OF MAGNETISM
1. Diamagnetism
2. Para magnetism
3. Ferromagnetism
4. Anti-ferromagnetism
5. Ferriemagnetism
1. Diamagnetism:

Diamagnetism appears in all materials and is the tendency of materials to oppose an

applied magnetic field, therefore it is repelled by a magnetic field. Diamagnetic
materials shows negative susceptibility of the order -10 -6. The graph magnetization
verses applied magnetic field for diamagnetic material shows negative susceptibility.

2. Para magnetism:

Some atoms or molecules have permanent magnetic moment. Magnetic moment is of

the order of +10-5. The permanent magnetic moment is the result of unpaired electron
 spins. The graph magnetization versus applied magnetic files gives positive
susceptibility.

3. Ferromagnetism:
The susceptibility of ferromagnetic materials are typically of order +100 or +105.
ferromagnetic susceptibility of material is quite temperature sensitive, and above a
temperature known as curie temperature, the material becomes ferromagnetic and it
becomes merely paramagnetic.

4. Anti- ferromagnetism

Anti-ferromagnetic substances have a small susceptibility at all temperatures but there

susceptibility varies in a peculiar way.

5. Ferrimagnetism:
 It is similar to Anti-ferromagnetism but except that adjacent moments are unequally in
magnitude and hence complete cancellation moment does not takes place.

Magnetic susceptibility:

Magnetic susceptibility is a dimensionless proportionality constant that indicates the

degree of magnetization of a material in response to an applied magnetic field. It is caused by
interactions of electrons and nuclei with the external applied magnetic field.

QUINCKE’S METHOD:

The Quincke’s method aims at determining the magnetic susceptibility of a

paramagnetic or diamagnetic aqueous solution or liquid. The solution is placed in a narrow part of U-
tube. The narrow part is placed in a nearly uniform magnetic field while the wider part is far removed
from the field. On activating the field with current the meniscus in the narrower part will rise if the
solution is paramagnetic and it will fall if the solution is diamagnetism.

SAMPLE PREPARATION:

1. Manganese sulphate (MnSO4):

Manganese sulphate is obtained by treating manganese dioxide (MnO 2) with sulphur dioxide
(SO2). i.e., MnO2 +SO2→ MnSO4

For 1N concentration,

5.07 gram of MnSO4 substances dissolved in 30ml of water we get required 1N concentration
MnSO4 solution.

For 2N concentration,

10.14 grams of MnSO4 substance is dissolved in 30ml of water we get required 2N concentration
MnSO4 solution.
2. Ferric chloride (FeCl3):
For 1N concentration,
4.83 gram of FeCl3 substance is dissolved in 30ml of water we get required 1N concentrated
FeCl3 solution.
For 2N
9.73 gram of FeCl3 substance is dissolved in 30ml of water we get required 2N concentration
FeCl3 solution.

PROCEDURE:

 Clean and dry the Quincke’s tube thoroughly.

 Prepare solutions with different concentrations and determine their densities carefully.
 Calibrate the magnetic field against magnetizing current by using hall probe and digital
gauss meter.
 Make the pole pieces nearly touch the sides of the narrower tube so that field is
maximum and also very nearly uniform.
 Fill the U-tube with solution. H 2O solution so that the meniscus is just above the lower
lip of the pole pieces, when the field is turn off.
 Determine the different magnetizing current h by travelling microscope accurately.
 The magnetic field between pole pieces does not drop to zero even when the current is
switch off. Thus there is residual magnetic field which requires correction
 Repeat the whole procedure with pure distilled water, as the susceptibility of water is
very low in comparison to that off the any solution.