Only some materials such as iron and cobalt are magnetic. These materials can be made into magnets, while other metals cannot. Explain how a permanent magnet creates a magnetic field and how these metals can be made into magnets?
Gary H
It is all about the electrons and, specifically, the "spin" of the electrons. When groups of atoms are "oriented" such that the "spins" are aligned, this forms a "magnetic domain". The more of these magnetic domains that are aligned, the stronger the magnetic field becomes. I use a lot "quotes" because, fundamentally, electrons are not normal objects that one could spin like a top. That said, all atoms of electrons which have "spin" but only certain atoms have electrons (or electron configurations) which can generate a permanent magnetic field.
It was, I believe, Albert Einstein who said: If you can't explain something to a 5 yr old, maybe you don't understand it very well. I think this applies to magnetism.