Nickel

Name: Nickel
Symbol: Ni
Atomic Number: 28
Atomic Weight: 58.6934
Melting Point: 1728 K (1455°C or 2651°F)
Boiling Point: 3186 K (2913°C or 5275°F)
Density: 8.912 grams per cubic centimeter
Phase at Room Temperature: Solid
Element Classification: Metal
Period Number: 4
Group Number: 10
Group Name: none

The word nickel was derived from a German word which means "Old Nick," a name for the devil. Nickel was discovered by the Swedish chemist named Axel Fredrik Cronstedt in the mineral niccolite (NiAs) in 1751. Today, most nickel is obtained from the mineral pentlandite (NiS2FeS).

Nickel (Ni) is a transition element that exhibits a mixture of ferrous and nonferrous metal properties. It is both siderophile (i.e., associates with iron) and chalcophile (i.e., associates with sulfur). The bulk of the nickel mined comes from two types of ore deposits:

• Laterites where the principal ore minerals are nickeliferous limonite and garnierite (a hydrous nickel silicate), or
• Magmatic sulfide deposits where the principal ore mineral is pentlandite.

The ionic radius of divalent nickel is close to that of divalent iron and magnesium, allowing the three elements to substitute for one another in the crystal lattices of some silicates and oxides. Nickel sulfide deposits are generally associated with iron- and magnesium-rich rocks referred to as ultramafics, and can be found in both volcanic and plutonic settings. Many of the sulfide deposits occur at great depth. Laterites are formed by the weathering of ultramafic rocks and are a near-surface phenomenon.

Nickel is a hard, corrosion resistant metal which can be electroplated onto other metals to form a protective coating. Nickel is also alloyed with other metals to improve their strength and resistance to corrosion. Nickel is alloyed with steel to make armor plate, vaults and machine parts.

Nickel is primarily sold for first use as refined metal (cathode, powder, briquet, etc.) or ferronickel. About 65% of the nickel consumed in the Western World is used to make austenitic stainless steel. Another 12% goes into superalloys used in the aerospace industry and 23% into nonferrous alloys used in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries, catalysts and other chemicals, coinage, foundry products, and plating. Both types of alloys are widely used because of their corrosion resistance.

The principal commercial chemicals are the carbonate (NiCO3), chloride (NiCl2), divalent oxide (NiO), and sulfate (NiSO4).