Abstract: A magnetic levitation system is described, including a first and second magnets having surfaces of their like-poles facing each other; and a container disposed between the first and second magnets' like poles and containing a solution including a paramagnetic complex in a non-aqueous solvent, where the paramagnetic complex includes a paramagnetic metal and at least one ligand that coordinates to the paramagnetic metal via electron donation. Methods of separating a mixture of solid compounds, and/or identifying, confirming, and/or predicting the composition of the mixture, are also described.