How to Destroy a Magnet (+ interactive periodic table)

Magnets are amazingly strong... but there's a very easy way to destroy them. All you need to know is a little bit about ferromagnetism, paramagnetism, and temperature!

And twitter - @minutephysics

Minute Physics provides an energetic and entertaining view of old and new problems in physics -- all in a minute!

Thanks to Nima Doroud for contributions. Created by Henry Reich

[Callordin]

I love it when my favorite science blogs reference each other! :D Thanks, Henry! I'll stop playing with magnets in hot places now....

[luvherlikecrazy]

I was going to say that you should include PeriodicVideos but didn't because they're chem and you're physics BUT YOU DID ANYWAY. Thank you. Triple awesomeness.

[JamisonPantley]

Could you elaborate more on anti ferromagnetism? I've never heard of it before and it sounds fascinating.

[Mr_A_Bear]

Thank you so much for linking to the interactive periodic table and especially the periodic table of videos. I'd never heard of the videos before but I can't stop watching them now.

[drakonzebra]

So can that magnet be restored after cooling by applying magnetic field on it?

[ng]

What a great interactive periodic table website! Thanks minutephysics and periodicvideos. Such an invaluable teaching/learning tool!

[bananastickman]

ok so what about the core of the earth and its liquid iron? is the core not hot enough to destroy the magnetic bonds?

[wello]

Thank you for the time and effort put into all that you do. You guys really do make physics simple and understandable. Have you thought about publishing textbooks?

[detective_yeti]

I will now use this information to destroy the earth magnetic field so I end humanity mmwwhahahaha

[Massanjatheth]

WHOO HOO HENRY!! i miss minute physics and every time i get that longing for it boom u fulfill my needs :D
THANK YOU HENRY AND EVERYONE WIT MIN PHYS!!

[dyronjuzelsimene]

I watched all your videos about magnets just today coz I'm darn curious, but one thing i can't understand is it's origin (am i right? Origin?) the thing called "Tiny Magnets" OR "intrinsic magnetic moment" If you could make a video about it we'd be glad and can fully understand the magnetic moment of everything

[DarkCatXX]

I didn't know all the exact science, but I knew that heating a magnet destroys it. I'm studying blacksmithing in school and this is a key part to tempering metal! You need to start by heating a metal to its critical temperature, and that occurs right after it looses its magnetic properties! It's pretty interesting to know the exact science behind it now! Thanks :3

[DrJinKwon]

Can you reverse this process by cooling the magnet?

[hernandez]

This is the best MinutePhysics video I've seen in, what seems like, a long time..

[howarthe]

Heat can destroy my magnets.  Can cold destroy magnets?  I have found geocaches in the woods which were supposed to be magnetic but aren't.  I always thought it was the cold that ruined the magnetism, but maybe it was the heat.  Which element are they probably using to create these magnets?

[oanaalexia]

Henry, thank you for the Interactive Periodic Table. It's a very nice link, I couldn't leave it till now but it's in my bookmarks.

[dnzssrl]

Who came for that interactive periodic table? :D

[rizz]

Wow an interactive video? There's only so much you can do from the other side of youtube. But Henry is just awesome.

[woodfur]

Ah, that is a valid point. I'm glad we've had this thoughtful and intelligent discussion.

[landonkryger]

According to the chart, Neodymium magnets (Nd2Fe14B), are made of paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, and diamagnetic atoms. What makes these magnets so strong.
And I really hope you do one to explain diamagnetic. That's a cool property to play with.