Nickel

What is Nickel?

Nickel is an element that belongs to the ferromagnetic group. It is known for its ability to resist corrosion which is why this precious metal is found in almost every application such as in coins, batteries, magnets, and stainless steel. More facts about nickel are found here.

Where is Nickel obtained?

Nickel is one of the main elements you can find in the earth’s core. In fact, it is the 22nd most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Industrially, nickel is mined and the main sources are ores like garnierite, pentlandite, and limonite. Australia, Canada, and Russia are the largest nickel-producing countries.

History of Nickel

The discovery of nickel dated in the 1600s when German miners searched for copper in the Ore Mountains. They were able to discover an ore, which at that time was unknown nickel ore. It looks like a pale brownish-red rock consisting of nickel and arsenic. However, at that time, they thought they discovered another type of copper ore. So what the miners did was they tried extracting the copper but failed to do so.

As frustrated as they are, miners blamed nickel and called the ore kupfernicle or “copper demon.” In 1751, Baron Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, a Swedish alchemist attempted to heat kupfernickel using charcoal and was able to observe various properties like its color and magnetism. Only then, they were able to conclude that the ore is not copper. He was the very first person to successfully extract and isolate nickel and called it a new element. He named it nickel.

Classification, Properties, and Characteristics of Nickel

At room temperature, nickel is a silvery-white metal. Just like other metals, it is known for being hard but malleable. It also has the ability to retain its magnetism at room temperature. It can be polished to release its shiny features. Naturally, it has the ability to resist corrosion. Nickel is a very good conductor of heat and electricity.

Lewis Dot Structure of Nickel

Bohr’s Atomic Model of Nickel

Atomic Data of Nickel

Physical Properties of Nickel

Color	Silver
Odor	Odorless
Taste	Tasteless
Atomic Mass	58.71 g.mol -1
Weight	58.69
Density	8.902 (25 °C)
Atomic Radius	1.97Å
Ionization Energy	735 kJ.mol -1
Covalent Radius	1.17 Å
Ionic Radius	0.069 nm (+2) ; 0.06 nm (+3)
Electronic Gain Enthalpy	111.537 kJ mol−1
Electron Negativity	1.8
Electron Affinity	111.537 kJ mol−1
Melting Point	1,453 °C (2,647 °F)
Boiling Point	2,732 °C (4,950 °F)

Chemical Properties of Nickel

Atomic Number	28
Group	10
Period	4
Block	d
Electronic Configuration	[Ar]3d84s2
Combustion	Highly Flammable
Chemical Reactivity	Unreactive in metallic form
Valency of Element	2

Different States of Nickel 

Nickel is solid at room temperature. It may take a semi-solid or liquid form under certain circumstances such as in liquefaction. 

Uses of Nickel

• Most nickels mined today are used to produce nickel alloys and nickel steels. A perfect example of nickel steel is stainless steel is highly durable and has the ability to resist corrosion.
• Nickel is combined with other strong metals to create powerful magnets.
• Nickel is used to create coins, batteries, armor plates, and guitar strings.  Batteries made from nickel are rechargeable such as nickel-metal and nickel-cadmium batteries used to power hybrid vehicles.
• The ability of nickel to resist corrosion is the reason why it is one of the main components to plate other metals
• Nickel is used to making electric ovens and toasters. it is combined with chromium and small amounts of iron, manganese, and silicon to form nichrome.
• Desalination of plants is done with the use of copper-nickel alloy. It’s the process of converting seawater into freshwater.
• Armour plating is done with the use of nickel steel.
• Nickel alloys are used in turbine blades and propeller shafts.
• Nickel serves as a catalyst for vegetable oil hydrogenation.
• Nickel is added to glass to give it a distinctly green hue.
• Burglar-proof vaults are made from nickel steel.

Price of Nickel

The price of nickel is dependent on supply and demand. Pure nickel costs around $7.7 per 100 grams. For bulk purchases, the cost is around $2 per 100 grams.  

Interesting facts about Nickel

• At room temperature, nickel is ferromagnetic.
• Don’t you know that nickel below the earth’s crust is more concentrated than the core itself?
• Nickel is the second most abundant element in the core of the earth.
• Don’t you know that nickel is the primary metal in Mu-metal? Such a metal is made from 80% nickel and 20% iron. It also contains a very little amount of molybdenum.
• Don’t you know that alnico magnets, which used to be the strongest permanent magnets were made from nickel alloy, specifically nickel, aluminum, iron, and cobalt? It has the ability to retain magnetic properties even when heated.
• Don’t you know that US Dollar’s five-cent coin is made from 25% nickel and 75% copper?
• Don’t you know that nickel has a vital role to play in the cells of plants and other microorganisms?
• Don’t you know that nickel alloy, specifically nickel-titanium can retain its shape? If you bend and deform it, it will retain back to its original shape once heated.
• Don’t you know that 39% of nickel produced every year comes from recycling?

Frequently Asked Questions Nickel

References 

1. https://www.ducksters.com/science/chemistry/nickel.php
2. https://www.britannica.com/science/nickel-chemical-element
3. https://www.thoughtco.com/interesting-nickel-element-facts-3858573
4. https://www.livescience.com/29327-nickel.html
5. https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/ni.htm
6. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/28/nickel
7. https://www.chemicool.com/elements/nickel.html
8. https://www.techsteel.net/10-facts-about-the-nickel-element
9. https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-nickel/
10. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/element/Nickel