Can a spread out array of individual iron atoms be magnetized?

a spread out array will work just fine. the only thing you have to watch out for is forming molecular bonds. for example, hemoglobin has iron in it, but why wen we stick a magnet to our skin, more blood DOESN'T concentrate in that area? it's because the iron is bonded to something else and so it no longer has its' permamagnetic properties. there just needs to be enough of those "spread out" iron atoms. or else its' magnetic field will be too weak to be noticable. and you need to of course have the iron atoms aligned when you embed them in the plastic. all this is is a magnet w/ its' domains really sparse, but you just need that alignment thingy or else they won't act as a domain as a whole.

Good question, maybe you could look for a more specific science forum. Not very many enlightened answers coming up here.