Magnetic Susceptibility of Paramagnetic Material by Quincke’s Method

Rajat Shuvra Saha1, ∗

1
School of Physical Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, HBNI, Jatni-752050, India
We shall be finding out the value of χF eCl3 using Quincke’s Method.This method is useful when
the substance shows strong magnetic properties. Ferric Chloride is so chosen, for this experiment
for its paramagnetic nature. By plotting a curve between h ∼ B 2 , we shall find out χF eCl3 and then
′ ′′
we calculate χ and χ . Using these, Curie Constant C and µF eCl3 was also calculated.

AIMS OF THE EXPERIMENT

This equation shows that by plotting h as a function of
In this experiment we shall majorly try to determine: H 2 , the susceptibility χ can be determined directly from
the slope of the straight line graph.
1. To determine magnetic susceptibility χ for a given The expression is in SI Units in which ρ,g,h and H
solution of specific concentration of a paramagnetic are measured in kg/m3 ,m/s2 ,m and amp.turn/m respec-
material. tively.
′ In CGS Units it becomes,
2. To determine
′′
Mass Susceptibility χ , Molar Suscep-
tibility χ , Curie’s Constant C and Dipole Moment 2ρgh
µ χ=
H2
.
INTRODUCTION TO THEORETICAL The volume susceptibilities in the two units are related
BACKGROUND by χsi = 4πχcgs

We quickly state the other important relations we

The Quincke’s method is used to determine magnetic
will be using,
susceptibility of diamagnetic or paramagnetic substances
Mass Susceptibility
in the form of a liquid or an aqueous solution.The force
f on the sample is negative of the gradient of the ′ χ
χ =
change in energy density when the sample is placed, ρ

Molar Susceptibility,
′′ ′
χ =χM

The force acting on an element of area

A and length dx of the liquid column is Curie’s Constant
f Adx, so the total force F on the liquid is,
′′
C=χ T

Magnetic Moment µ is given by,

√
µ = 2.8241 C
where the integral is taken over the whole liquid.
It follows that, F = Ah(ρ − ρa )g, and
APPARATUS INVOLVED:
2 H
χ = χa + g(ρ − ρa ) 2
µ0 H − H02 1. Adjustable Electromagnet N=500 Turns

In actual practice, χair , ρa and H0 are negligible, so our 2. Constant Power Supply 0-16 V
above equation simplifies to:
3. Hall Probe
2ρgh
χ= 4. Digital Gauss Meter
µ0 H 2
5. Travelling Microscope of V.C.=0.01 mm on both
scales
∗ rajatshuvra.saha@niser.ac.in 6. Sample of anhydrous F eCl3
 2

7. Distilled Water 7. Measure the displacement s as a function of applied

field B by changing the magnet current in small
8. Specfic Gravity Bottle and Measuring Cylinder. steps. We plot a graph of s as a function of B 2 .
9. U Tube with stand and dropper.
TABLE OF OBSERVATIONS
DIAGRAM OF THE SETUP
Least count of travelling microscope=0.001 cm
Mass of Specific Gravity Bottle=54.4 g
Mass of Specific Gravity Bottle+Distilled Water=102.4
g
Mass of Specific Gravity Bottle+Liquid=119.6 g
Then, we can use the following formula to obtain density
of our solution.
w3 − w1
ρF eCl3 = ρwater
w2 − w1

=⇒ ρF eCl3 = 1.38g/cc

TABLE I. Table of Current I vs Magnetic Field B

S. No. I(Amp) B(KiloGauss)
1 0 13
2 0.5 75
3 1 119
4 1.5 172
PROCEDURE INVOLVED IN
5 2 209
EXPERIMENTATION
6 2.5 251
7 3 292
1. We make sure the electromagnet and hall probe 8 3.5 335
are working properly, by making appropriate con- 9 4 380
nections in series.
2. Measure the density ρ of the specimen by specific TABLE II. Rise of Solution Level as a function of B 2
gravity bottle, by the formula, S.No. I B 2 h=(b-a)
1 0 169 0
w3 − w1 2 0.5 5625 0.004
ρliquid = ρwater
w2 − w1 3 1 14161 0.009
4 1.5 29584 0.012
5 2 43681 0.046
6 2.5 63001 0.049
3. We thoroughly clean the U Tube,rinse it with dis- 7 3 85264 0.114
8 3.5 112225 0.134
tilled water and dry it with compressed air.Let it
9 4 144400 0.179
be set aside.
4. We apply a current I and note down the magnetic
field B using the Gauss Meter upto 4 A, with steps
of 0.5 A. This will be used for calibration of the
electromagnet.
5. Fill the liquid in the tube and set the meniscus cen-
trally within the pole pieces. Focus the microscope
on the meniscus and take readings.
6. Apply the magnetic field B as noted earlier in
steps of 0.5 A and note down the rise of liquid
column in capillary tube.
 3

GRAPHICAL OBSERVATIONS

FIG. 4. Least Square Fitted Curve for h vs B 2

CALCULATIONS INVOLVED:
2
FIG. 1. Plot of B vs height h=(b-a)
We have previously obtained
h
χ = (4gµ0 (ρ − ρair )) − χair
B2
. From the least square fitted curve, we have obtained
h
= 1.288 × 10−6
B2
. We compute the χ in SI units, therefore we assume
g=9.8 m/s2
µ0 = 4π × 10−7 H/m
ρa = 1.293kg/m3
FIG. 2. Plot of Current I vs Magnetic Field B Plugging in our values, we obtain

m3
χliquid = 8.743 × 10−7
mol

However,

χliquid = χwater + χF e

Hence, we deduct χwater to get the actual value of

χF eCl3 From standard literature, χwater = 1.256 × 10−7 .
Hence, we finally obtain χF e = 7.482 × 10−7 mol
m3
′
Mass Susceptibility, χ ′′= 0.00535
FIG. 3. Plot of Current I vs magnetic field B 2
Molar Susceptibility, χ = 8.662 × 10−4
Ambient Temperature=293 K
Curie Constant=2.537 √
Magnetic Moment µ of the sample=2.8241 C

=⇒ µ = 1.4227µb

where µb is in units of Bohr Magneton

PROPAGATION OF ERRORS

By our formula of χF eCl3 , we have,

h
χ = [4gµ0 (ρ − ρa )] − χa
B2
 4

. Hence, we can compute the uncertainty in measurement were much smaller and difficult to verify from standard
of χF eCl3 by: literature. However, µ = 1.42µb which was close to the-
oretical value. The offset error was taken into account
while calibration of I ∼ B 2
r
δh δB
δχ = ( ) + 2( )
h B
. PRECAUTIONS AND SOURCES OF ERRORS
The other factors, viz. {g,µ0 ,ρ,ρa ,χa } are not taken into
account as they are supplied values. 1. Make sure offset is set to 0 before taking measure-
In the above formula, δh=0.01 mm and δB=10 Gauss ment in Gauss Meter.Set it in x10 Mode for relent-
less reading.
Here δh and δB are least count of Travelling Mi-
croscope and Gauss Meter respectively. 2. Make sure the U Tube is completely dry before fill-
ing it up. If not,dry it with the hair dryer.
Linear fitting was carried out between plot of h ∼ B 2 and
3. Distilled Water should be used and weighed first
slope of straight line was used to measure χF eCl3 +H2 O
before taking mass of the liquid.
Computing the results in Mathematics, yielded
δχ = 0.287 × 10−6 . Finally, we obtain 4. At least 20 g of F eCl3 is required for observing
considerable rise in the meniscus.
χF e = (7.482 ± 0.287) × 10−7
5. Vision in microscope appears inverted. Keep the
crosswire on the upper end of the visible meniscus
before taking the measurements.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 6. Set the EM connections in series,before starting
measurements.
The Standard literature values for χF eCl3 = 1.69 × 7. Avoid backlash error while using travelling micro-
10−8 . We note that our values have greatly deviated scope.
from the standard measurement. This could be due to
various reasons,like presence of air in U tube, uneven rise
in liquid’s meniscus, parallaxial error while taking the REFERENCES AND CITATIONS
measurement, or differential ambient temperature. The
rise was extremely small and needed fine measurements, 1. www.sestechno.com/teaching Manual for Magnetic
which was difficult. The values of the data was taken permeability
in two sets of 10g and 20g of F eCl3 ,however rise was
considerable in the latter case. The values of 2. I. S. Grant and W.R. Phillips, “Electromagnetism”,
(Wiley)
′ ′′
(χ , χ , C, µ)