ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

High spin

Have you ever played with a toy top that spins really fast? Well, in science, some atoms and molecules can also spin very quickly. This is what we call a high spin state.

Atoms and molecules are made up of tiny parts called electrons, which orbit around a nucleus. Just like how you can spin a toy top faster or slower by using different amounts of energy, we can also speed up or slow down the spin of electrons inside atoms and molecules.

In a high spin state, the electrons in an atom or molecule are spinning very fast. This can happen when we add energy to the system, either by heating it up or exposing it to light. When the electrons are moving quickly, they can interact with other atoms and molecules in different ways, which can change the properties of the material.

For example, some materials with high spin states are magnetic, meaning they can attract or repel other objects with magnetic properties. This can be useful in things like computer hard drives, where tiny magnets are used to store information.

So, in summary, a high spin state is when the electrons in an atom or molecule are spinning very quickly, which can affect the properties of the material and make it magnetic.