Paramagnetism and the Electronic Configuration of the Atom

Abstract

IN a recent note1 Foëx has directed attention to the fact that two samples of a paramagnetic salt, well defined chemically and placed in identical conditions, can possess very different magnetic properties, apparently corresponding to distinct states of the paramagnetic ion in the salt. This diversity of the magnetic states has been known for some time for the case of solutions of the salts.2 Thus a concentrated solution of ferrous ammonium sulphate exists in four states: 26 magnetons with a positive molecular field, 26.5 without an appreciable molecular field, 27 and 27.5 with a negative molecular field.