Nickel (Ni) was discovered in 1751 in Stockholm, Sweden by AF Cronstedt from the mineral kupfernickel (niccolite). It is a silvery-white metal and is found mainly in arsenic and sulfide ores.
Making a brief general description of the chemical element, it can be said that nickel corresponds to a solid chemical element, in addition, it is considered as a shiny, silvery-white, hard metallic element, however, most nickel compounds are blue or green, including nickel ores.
Today it is known that nickel occurs scarcely in nature, forming minerals such as pentlandite and niccolite. Furthermore, it should be noted that it is present in most of the meteorites known as iron-nickel meteorites.
Nickel on the periodic table
| Symbol | Neither |
| Atomic number | 28 |
| Atomic mass | 58,693 |
| discovered by | Nickel was discovered by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt. |
Nickel is a transition metal, with an atomic number of 28, located in group 10 and the fourth period of the periodic table of elements.
Physical and chemical properties are the characteristics of a substance, such as nickel, that distinguish it from any other substance. The most common substances exist as states of matter such as solids, liquids, gases, and plasma.
Importance of Nickel
Approximately 69% of the nickel produced is used to make stainless steels. Another 15% is used in other steels and non-ferrous alloys, often for highly specialized industrial, aerospace and military applications.
The most important use of this element is that it is used to make coins and in the manufacture of wires. Approximately 8% is used in plating and another 3% in foundries and castings.
Approximately 3% of nickel is used in batteries for electronics and batteries for portable equipment and hybrid cars, and approximately 2% goes to uses such as chemicals, catalysts, and dyes. Learn more about the uses and applications of nickel at this link.
Properties and characteristics of nickel
Nickel is silvery-white. It is a hard, malleable, and ductile metal. It belongs to the iron group and acquires a high luster. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. In its familiar compounds, nickel is bivalent, although it assumes other valences.
| Nickel Characteristics | Description |
| chemical symbol: | Neither |
| Atomic number: | 28 |
| Atomic weight: | 58.69 |
| Melting point: | 1453°C. |
| Boiling point: | 2730°C. |
| Density: | 8.90g/cm3to 25°C. |
| Curie temperature: | 253°C. |
1. Physical properties of nickel
Nickel is a silvery-white heavy metal with a slight yellow hue. It is a solid element with a relative hardness, which is valued at 5 on the Mohs scale. nickel it is an extremely heavy metal, so much so that it can be compared to iron, osmium and iridium.
It is ductile and malleable, it can be rolled, forged and polished, which is why it is widely used in alloys due to its toughness and for being highly resistant to corrosion. It is ferromagnetic, but when temperatures above 355º C are applied, it loses this characteristic.
It has a density of 8908 kg/M³, its melting point is from 1455 °C and its boiling point is 2457 °C.
2. Chemical properties of nickel
| Cluster | 10 |
| Period | 4 |
| Block | D. |
| Atomic number | 28 |
| State at 20 ° C | Solid |
| Electronic configuration | [Ar] 3d84s2 |
| Melting point | 1455°C, 2651°F, 1728K |
| Boiling point | 2913°C, 5275°F, 3186K |
| Density (g cm−3) | 8.90 |
| relative atomic mass | 58,693 |
| key isotopes | 58Ni |
| CAS number | 7440-02-0 |
Nickel chemically has certain similarities to iron, in addition to being moderately reactive.
At the atomic level, it is made up of 28 electrons that are distributed in eight energy levels. While in its nucleus there are 31 neutrons and 28 protons.
nickel has a slow reaction with oxygen. Compounds from this metal, such as sulfates, can be carcinogenic, while nickel tetracarbonyl is highly volatile and toxic.
3. Where is it found and how is it extracted?
Nickel is not found in its pure state, but is found through minerals such as kamacite, millerite, tainite, garnierite, pyrrhotite, and pentlandite.
This metal is obtained through mining activities in underground deposits and then through electrolysis with nickel sulfide, where both elements are separated.
Canada, Cuba and Russia, are the countries that have the productive power of 70% of world demand, while Bolivia, Colombia and the Dominican Republic also produce nickel for the world.
4. In which part of the planet is it abundant?
Nickel is scarcely abundant in the earth’s crust, however it is the second element with greater presence in the core of the planet, because together with iron they generate a layer known as the magnetosphere.
It is also very frequent that it is found inside certain meteorites. Together with iron it makes up kamacite and taenite.
5. Functioning in the human body
Nickel is usually dangerous for the body, having high levels of this metal in the body can cause serious pathologies, including lung, nose, larynx and prostate cancer.
Also exposure to nickel fumes can have very harmful effects on the lungs and heart.
Many foods contain a high percentage of nickel, including chocolate and fats.
6. Benefits in nickel technology
Nickel participates in the creation of the so-called “superalloys”, in which it is fused with other elements to add greater resistance and durability and are quite required in the aerospace industry.
The rechargeable batteries used in technological devices are made from nickel-cadmium.
While the hybrid cars use this metal for batteries that store energy captured from regenerative braking.
7. Benefits in society
Nickel is a metal widely used by humanity throughout its history.
Although she does not possess great beauty, she has a high demand for alloys with other metals.
8. Nickel Alloys
More than 60% of the world’s nickel production is destined for the stainless steel processing and for other types of alloys.
Nickel is used in metallurgy, in alloys because it is a metal with little reactivity, giving this quality to its alloy partners.
The superalloys generated from nickel are monel, which is created together with copper, nitinol-55 fused with titanium, mu-metal, which is the result of its union with iron, and alnico, which is an alloy of aluminum, nickel and cobalt.
9. Nickel in Coin and Jewelry
Nickel is popular worldwide for being used in the currencies of most countries. It is also used in the watchmaking and jewelry industry, as it is one of the components of the well-known “white gold”. However, nickel plating is not recommended due to the proven toxicity of this metal.
10. Nickel can be harmful
Nickel is an element toxic and carcinogenic, especially its vapors and nickel sulfate. Also nickel carbonyl, which is a very common but toxic gas.
Likewise, there are people who are sensitive to nickel in its pure state, manifesting this condition with allergies when having direct contact.