Nickel information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its high purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.
 Nickel belongs to the iron-cobalt group of metals. Nickel is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. It is extensively used for making stainless steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys. It is highly electronically conductive and has many applications as a result. It is the basis of the nickel hydride battery. Most recently, its conductive properties have made it an ideal component for ceramic anode formulations used in oxygen generation and solid oxide fuel cell applications. Catalytic nickel is used to hydrogenate vegetable oils. Nickel additions to glass and ceramic glazes impart a bright green. It is also used in pigments for this purpose.
Nickel facts, including appearance, CAS #, and molecular formula and safety data, research and properties are
available for many specific states, forms and shapes on the product pages listed to the left. Elemental or metallic forms include pellets, rod, wire and granules for evaporation source material purposes. Nanoparticles and nanopowders provide ultra high surface area which nanotechnology research and recent experiments demonstrate function to create new and unique properties and benefits.
Oxides are available in forms including powders and dense pellets for such uses as optical coating and thin film applications. Oxides tend to be insoluble. Fluorides are another insoluble form for uses in which oxygen is undesirable such as metallurgy, chemical and physical vapor deposition and in some optical coatings. Nickel is available in soluble forms including chlorides, nitrates and acetates. These compounds are also manufactured as solutions at specified stoichiometries.
Nickel is a Block D, Group 4, Period 4 element. The number of electrons in each of Nickel's shells is 2, 8, 16, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Ar]3d8 4s2. In its elemental form nickel's CAS number is 7440-02-0. Nickel is sometimes found free in nature but is more commonly found in ores. The nickel atom has a radius of 149.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 163.pm. Nickel and its compounds are considered to be carcinogenic. Nickel carbonyl is a very toxic gas.
 All elemental metals, compounds and solutions may be synthesized in ultra high purity (e.g. 99.999%) for laboratory standards, advanced electronic, thin fillm deposition using sputtering targets and evaporation materials, metallurgy and optical materials and other high technology applications. Information is provided for stable (non-radioactive) isotopes. Organo-Metallic Nickel compounds are soluble in organic or non-aqueous solvents. See Analytical Services for information on available certified chemical and physical analysis techniques including MS-ICP, X-Ray Diffraction, PSD and Surface Area (BET) analysis.
Nickel was first discovered by Alex Constedt in 1751.
The name originates from the German word 'kupfernickel' which means false copper from the illusory copper color of the ore.
 Nickel |
 Nickel |
 Nichel |
 Níquel |
 Niquel |
 Nickel |
Nickel Abundance. The following table shows the abundance of nickel and each of its naturally occurring isotopes on Earth along with the atomic mass for each isotope.
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
% Abundance on Earth |
| Ni-58 |
57.935 |
68.08 |
| Ni-60 |
59.931 |
26.22 |
| Ni-61 |
60.931 |
1.14 |
| Ni-62 |
61.928 |
3.63 |
| Ni-64 |
63.978 |
0.93 |
The following table shows the abundance of Nickel present in the human body and in the universe scaled to parts per billion (ppb) by weight and by atom:
| |
Typical Human Body |
Universe |
| by Weight |
100 ppb |
60000 ppb |
| by Atom |
11 ppb |
1000 ppb |
Nickel Safety Data and Biological Role. The safety data for nickel metal, nanoparticles and its compounds can vary widely depending on the form. For potential hazard information, toxicity, and road, sea and air transportation limitations, such as DOT Hazard Class, DOT Number, EU Number, NFPA Health rating and RTECS Class, please see the specific material or compound referenced in the left margin. Nickel compounds have significant biological role in chicks and rats, and in plant ureases. Nickel is also found in hydrogenases enzymes in bacteria.
Ionization Energy. The ionization energy for nickel (the least required energy to release a single electron from the atom in it's ground state in the gas phase) is stated in the following table:
| 1st Ionization Energy |
737.13 kJ mol-1 |
| 2nd Ionization Energy |
1753.04 kJ mol-1 |
| 3rd Ionization Energy |
3395.34 kJ mol-1 |
Conductivity. As to nickel's electrical and thermal conductivity, the electrical conductivity measured in terms of electrical resistivity @ 20 ºC is 6.84 µOcm and its electronegativities (or its ability to draw electrons relative to other elements) is 1.91. The thermal conductivity of nickel is 90.7 W m-1 K-1.
Thermal Properties of Nickel. The melting point and boiling point for nickel are stated below. The following chart sets forth the heat of fusion, heat of vaporization and heat of atomization.
| Heat of Fusion |
17.6 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Vaporization |
374.8 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Atomization |
427.659 kJ mol-1 |
Recent Research & Development for NickelThe Role of a Bilayer Interfacial Phase on Liquid Metal Embrittlement.
Luo J, Cheng H, Asl KM, Kiely CJ, Harmer MP.
Science. 2011 Sep 23;333(6050):1730-1733.
PMID:
21940889
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Wettability of carbon nanofiber layers on nickel foils.
Pacheco Benito S, Lefferts L.
J Colloid Interface Sci. 2011 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21939980
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Function of UreB in Klebsiella aerogenes Urease.
Carter EL, Boer JL, Farrugia MA, Flugga N, Towns CL, Hausinger RP.
Biochemistry. 2011 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21939280
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study on Redox-Active d(8) Metal Dithione-Dithiolato Complexes Showing Molecular Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Activity.
Pilia L, Espa D, Barsella A, Fort A, Makedonas C, Marchio` L, Mercuri ML, Serpe A, Mitsopoulou CA, Deplano P.
Inorg Chem. 2011 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21939192
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
[Heterogeneity of epidermal cells in relation to nickel accumulation in Alyssum hyperaccumulators].
[No authors listed]
Tsitologiia. 2011;53(7):572-9. Russian.
PMID:
21938929
[PubMed - in process]
Homocysteine metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: evidence for cystathionine beta-synthase activity in resting state.
Katko M, Zavaczki E, Jeney V, Paragh G, Balla J, Varga Z.
Amino Acids. 2011 Sep 22. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21938399
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Microscopic computerized tomographic evaluation of root canal transportation prepared with twisted or ground nickel-titanium rotary instruments.
Freire LG, Gavini G, Branco-Barletta F, Sanches-Cunha R, Dos Santos M.
Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2011 Sep 19. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21937249
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Site-specific immobilization of a (His)6-tagged acetylcholinesterase on nickel nanoparticles for highly sensitive toxicity biosensors.
Ganesana M, Istarnboulie G, Marty JL, Noguer T, Andreescu S.
Biosens Bioelectron. 2011 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21937214
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Accumulation of Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn in the halophyte plant Atriplex grown on polluted soil.
Kachout SS, Mansoura AB, Mechergui R, Leclerc JC, Rejeb MN, Ouerghi Z.
J Sci Food Agric. 2011 Sep 20. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.4581. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21935956
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Nickel-catalyzed Negishi cross-couplings of 6-chloropurines with organozinc halides at room temperature.
Wang DC, Niu HY, Qu GR, Liang L, Wei XJ, Zhang Y, Guo HM.
Org Biomol Chem. 2011 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21935566
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Dipeptide-Based Models of Nickel Superoxide Dismutase: Solvent Effects Highlight a Critical Role to Ni-S Bonding and Active Site Stabilization.
Gale EM, Cowart DM, Scott RA, Harrop TC.
Inorg Chem. 2011 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21932766
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
A Serendipitous Discovery: Nickel Catalyst for the Cycloaddition of Diynes with Unactivated Nitriles.
Kumar P, Prescher S, Louie J.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2011 Sep 20. doi: 10.1002/anie.201104475. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
PMID:
21932226
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Differential regulation of serine acetyltransferase is involved in nickel hyperaccumulation in thlaspi goesingense.
Na G, Salt DE.
J Biol Chem. 2011 Sep 19. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21930704
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Recovery of nickel from spent NiO/Al2O3 catalyst through sulfuric acid leaching, precipitation and solvent extraction.
Nazemi MK, Rashchi F.
Waste Manag Res. 2011 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21930525
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
New thermodynamic data for CoTiO3, NiTiO3 and CoCO3 based on low-temperature calorimetric measurements.
Klemme S, Hermes W, Eul M, Wijbrans CH, Rohrbach A, Pottgen R.
Chem Cent J. 2011 Sep 19;5(1):54. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21929780
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Aortic Valve Replacement in a Patient with Severe Nickel Allergy.
Lusini M, Barbato R, Spadaccio C, Chello M.
J Card Surg. 2011 Sep 19. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2011.01320.x. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21929741
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Nickel skin levels in different occupations and an estimate of the threshold for reacting to a single open application of nickel in nickel-allergic subjects.
Gawkrodger DJ, McLeod CW, Dobson K.
Br J Dermatol. 2011 Sep 20. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10644.x. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21929529
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
A current global view of environmental and occupational cancers.
Yang M.
J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2011 Jul;29(3):223-49.
PMID:
21929381
[PubMed - in process]
Differential biochemical response of rat kidney towards low and high doses of NiCl(2) as revealed by NMR spectroscopy.
Tyagi R, Rana P, Gupta M, Khan AR, Bhatnagar D, Bhalla PJ, Chaturvedi S, Tripathi RP, Khushu S.
J Appl Toxicol. 2011 Sep 16. doi: 10.1002/jat.1730. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21928331
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Influence of Operational Parameters and Low Nickel Concentrations on Partial Nitrification in a Submerged Biofilter.
Aslan S, Gurbuz B.
Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2011 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
21927858
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher] |
| Formula |
Atomic Number |
Molecular Weight |
Electronegativity (Pauling) |
Density |
Melting Point |
Boiling Point |
Vanderwaals radius |
Ionic radius |
Energy of first ionization |
| Ni |
28 |
58.71 g.mol -1 |
1.8 |
8.9 g.cm-3 at 20 °C |
1453 °C |
2913 °C |
0.124 nm |
0.069 nm (+2) ; 0.06 nm (+3) |
735 kJ.mol-1 |
|
