It may be odd to think about a liquid when you think about magnetism, but metal can take on any shape and form and still retain its attractive properties. This is no different whether it is a giant brick or a small dish: liquid magnets are known as ferrofluid, and the market to buy ferrofluid is indeed massive: they are used in everything that has low-friction seals, meaning that moving compartments must have minimal friction and surface contact while retaining their mobility. You can purchase it, but you can also make it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_bRekCKgWI
What is a ferrofluid? These liquid mixtures have extremely tiny particles of magnetic properties, approximately ten nanometers (far smaller than the human eye could ever perceive). This liquid can be nearly anything, ranging from water to protein-rich material to kerosene. Usually the magnetized solids are only a small percentage of the solution, while the main body of liquid (known as the carrier) composes the bulk of the magnetic pool.
If you were to buy ferrofluid and never expose it to metals, you may never realize what its proper utility is. It appears no different from any other type of liquid, mimicking the color of the carrier to look, feel, and smell the same as any other composition. When you take an external magnetic line, however, you can watch the liquid dance like something out of a movie. Even the smallest field will jolt the magnetic particles into the straightest possible connection, while removing the field will cause it to collapse with a splash. You can use it for artistic purposes, if you would care to: some extraordinary geometric designs can be produced by introducing ferrofluid to a magnetic field.
If you want to create your own chemistry experiment, it is easy enough to do it on your own. Just ensure that the area is properly ventilated, you have protection for your eyes and skin, and that it is nowhere near children, pets, flammable surfaces, or expensive clothing. Take ammonia (the type under the sink) and combine with oleic acid and ferric chloride solution, both of which can be found at crafts stores. With steel wool, water, kerosene, and heat, you can make your own batch.
The ferric chloride and steel wool should be added to the water, then the liquid filtered out (but keep the liquid). Stir in ammonia and heat until it nearly boils. Add the oleic acid and keep the heat on for an hour or so. Cool and add kerosene. This takes awhile but may be better than the choice to buy ferrofluid, given the rates on magnetizing materials. It is just like crafting beer in your basement: it is fun with chemistry that can produce some incredible results.
