Paramagnetic

The three ferromagnetic metals, iron, cobalt and nickel are strongly affected by magnetic fields. Other materials are often described as being non magnetic but they do in fact respond to magnetic forces ... with effects are many thousands of times weaker. Materials are classed as paramagnetic or diamagnetic depending on whether they are attracted or repelled in a magnetic field.

Paramagnetic materials

Some metals and some liquids and gasses (including oxygen) are paramagnetic. They are weakly attracted in a magnetic field. A suspended needle between the poles of a strong magnet turns to align with the field.

The strength of the effect is quoted as the magnetic susceptibility Cm that is + 0.000068 for tungsten and + 0.000022 for aluminum. Rare earth magnets are strong enough to attract aluminum powder and to align a tiny suspended tungsten needle with the field close to one face of the magnet.

Many other materials are diamagnetic