And what other types of metals are non magneticIf so any reason why
Aluminum is classified as being Non-Ferous - meaning it has no iron in it (chemical symbol Fe). The iron is what makes most, but not all, metals magnetic. In general, no iron means it's non magnetic. Stainless stell is another one that has a number of different series that are not magnetic.
Simply, any metal not containing iron, nickel or cobalt is non-magnetic. However, any conductive object can be attracted to an electro-magnet, because by creating an electric field, you also create a magnetic field. The magnetic field induces an electric field in the non-magnetic, but still conductive metal, such as aluminum, which results in a magnetic field being formed in the aluminum object. The two magnetic fields will then be attracted to each other, or repelled, depending on if and how you keep the North-South poles oriented.
It has to due with the quantum mechanics and Pauli exclusionary principle. Electron spin states in ferromagnetic materials are not fully occupied unless there are several atoms lined up such that their magnetic dipoles (think of a little current around the nucleus, which is hihgly oversimplied) all point the same way. Aluminum doesn't have that property. It is diamagnetic though, which means it is at lesat a little magnetic.
