Iron is one of the most common elements in the earth. It makes up
between 5 and 6 percent of the Earth's crust and a large portion of the
Earth's core. It is also one of the three common magnetic metals; the
others being nickel and cobalt. For these and other reasons, including
its hardness when combined with carbon to make steel, humans have been
using iron to make tools, compasses, and other substances for over 5,000
years.
Iron is a key element for life on Earth, not only because it is an
essential element of nutrition but also because of its magnetic
properties. It is theorized that the geodynamo that creates Earth's
magnetic field is produced by the movement of the Earth's outer core of
iron and nickel around the similar material in the inner core, creating
immense amounts of electromagnetic energy. This magnetic field is what
protects Earth from the radiation called solar wind, and without its
magnetic field, Earth could not support life.
Magnets only repel magnets of the same polarization, and do not magnetically influence non magnetic materials. You can find out by placing a magnet near it and see if the magnet
attracts the material. If the material is attracted, it means that the
material is magnetic. If the material is not attracted, it means the
material is non-magnetic.
