Nickel - Periodic Table of the Elements

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PERIODIC TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS version 1.7


 Ni

English:  Nickel
French: Nickel
Croatian: Nikal
German: Nickel
Italian: Nichel


Atomic number: 28
Group numbers: 10
Period: 4
Standard state (20 °C): solid

Nickel was discovered by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt (Sweden) in 1751. The origin of the name comes from the German word kupfernickel meaning Devil's copper or St Nicholas's (Old Nick's) copper. It is hard, malleable, silvery-white metal. Soluble in acids, resist alkalis. It can be polished to a lustrous finish. Resists corrosion in air under normal conditions.

Electronic configuration: [Ar] 3d⁸ 4s²
Relative atomic mass: 58.6934(2)
Formal oxidation number: +2 +3

Electronegativities: 1.91
Thermal conductivity: 90.7 W/(m K)
Electrical resistivity (20 °C): 6.84 μΩcm

Atomic radius: 124.6 pm
Density (g/dm3): 8902 (298 K) 
7780 (m.p.)
Molar volume (cm3/mol): 6.59 (298 K) 
7.54 (m.p.)

Melting point: 1455 °C
Boiling point: 2913 °C
Critical temperature: 5117 °C

Heat of fusion: 17.6 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization: 374.8 kJ/mol
Heat of atomization: 427.659 kJ/mol

Nickel is chiefly found in pentlandite [(Ni,Fe)9S8] ore. The metal is produced by heating the ore in a blast furnace which replaces the sulfur with oxygen. The oxides are then treated with an acid that reacts with the iron not the nickel. Used in electroplating and metal alloys because of its resistance to corrosion. Also in nickel-cadmium batteries, as a catalyst and for coins. The price of 99.99 % pure nickel pieces is 96.60 € for 500 g. 27Co <= 28Ni => 29Cu ___________________ If you have comments, corrections or suggestions about this site, please send me a e-mail. Periodic Table of the Elements __________________________________ Last modified: 29.03.2003 Copyright © 1998-2003 by Eni Generalic