Does Gold Magnetize?
Wondering if gold has magnetic properties like other metals, such as Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel? While gold is in every way a metal, pure gold is not magnetic. In fact, Iron, Cobalt, and Nickel are the only metals that have magnetic properties. However, gold can become temporarily magnetic (just like annealed iron and steel) when it is placed in the presence of a strong magnetic field. The effect is similar to what you see when tiny paper clips are made magnetic by placing them beside a permanent magnet.
Gold Alloys Are Magnetic
Pure gold on its own does not magnetize or stick to a magnet. But when about 20% of it is replaced with a metal like iron, it may stick to a magnet or exhibit other magnetic properties. Gold used in jewelry may also be magnetic depending on the alloys used, i.e, the metals combined with gold in the material. This includes 18k gold, 14k gold, 10k gold, and even white gold.
There are different alloys of gold. The most common metals that are alloyed with gold are zinc, copper, nickel, iron, cadmium, aluminum, silver, platinum, and palladium. These metals confer different amounts of magnetic strength to pure gold. Depending on the atmospheric temperature, the magnetism of gold alloys may be higher. Temperature is known to affect magnetism by either strengthening or weakening a magnet`s attractive force.
How Do Magnets Work?