Definition
Paramagnetism is a form of magnetism where some materials are weakly attracted by an externally applied magnetic field. This occurs because the material possesses unpaired electrons, which have intrinsic magnetic moments that tend to align with the external field. However, this alignment is only partial, as thermal motion randomizes the orientation of these moments. The attraction is weaker than in ferromagnets. Think of it like a crowd of people loosely following a leader; there's a general trend, but not perfect alignment. Aluminum and oxygen are examples of paramagnetic materials.