Discovery
Nickel was discovered by the Swedish Chemist Axel Fredick Cronstedt in 1751. The use of nickel has been traced as far back as 3,500 BC.
Melting and Boiling Points
Melting point: 1455 °C or 1728 K.
Boiling point: 2730 °C or 3003 K.
Uses
– About 68% of the world production is used in stainless steel, 10% is used for nickel based and copper based alloys, 7% for alloy steels, 3% in foundries, 9% in plating and 4% in other applications, including the fast growing battery sector.
– It is used as a catalyst for hydrogenation and some other important chemical reaction.
– It is used as cathodes for batteries, pigments and metal surface treatments.
– It was occasionally used as a substitute for decorative silver, because it is resistant to corrosion. It was also used occasionally in some countries after 1859 as a cheap coinage metal.
– Nickel foam or nickel mesh is used in gas diffusion electrodes for alkaline fuel cells.
Physical Properties
– It is a silvery-white metal with a slight golden tinge that takes a high polish.
– It is a hard, malleable and ductile metal.
– It has a very electrical and thermal conductivity for transition metals.
Occurrence
It is commonly found in iron meteorites as the alloys kamacite and taenite.
Atomic Number
28.
Symbol
Ni.
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