Like diamond, a pure carbon compound, Carbide compounds tend to be extremely hard, refractory and resistant to wear, corrosion and heat, making them excellent candidates for coatings for drills and other tools. They often have other valuable properties in combination with toughness, such as electrical conductivity, low thermal expansion and abrasiveness.

Nickel is a Block D, Group 4, Period 4 element. The electronic configuration is [Ar]3d84s2. In its elemental form nickel's CAS number is 7440-02-0. The nickel atom has a radius of 149.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 163.pm. It is extensively alloyed with iron, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and other metals produce stainless and other anti-corrosive 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 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 was first discovered by Alex Constedt in 1751.