What Is Nickel?
QUICK ANSWER
Nickel is a chemical element with atomic number 28 and the symbol Ni. It's a silvery-white, hard, ductile transition metal that's magnetic at room temperature. Nickel is widely used in stainless steel, rechargeable batteries, and coins, though it's also the most common cause of metal contact allergies.
Nickel is one of those quiet workhorses of modern industry. It probably doesn't come to mind as often as iron or aluminum, but nickel makes stainless steel possible, powers most rechargeable batteries, and sits in the pocket of anyone carrying US change. The same metal that builds modern technology also causes more skin allergies than any other metal.
Where is nickel on the periodic table?
Nickel has atomic number 28, the symbol Ni, and sits in group 10 of the periodic table among the transition metals, alongside palladium and platinum. Its atomic mass is about 58.7. Five stable isotopes exist, with Ni-58 being the most common at 68%. Nickel was first isolated by Axel Cronstedt in 1751, who originally thought he was working with copper ore. The name comes from the German Kupfernickel, meaning Old Nick's copper, referring to the difficulty of extracting copper from the ore that miners blamed on mischievous spirits.
What are the properties of nickel?
Nickel is a hard, silvery-white metal with a density of 8.9 g/cm³ and a high melting point of 1,455°C. It's one of only four elements that are magnetic at room temperature, alongside iron, cobalt, and gadolinium. Nickel is highly resistant to corrosion and oxidation, especially in alkaline environments, which is why it's used as a plating on other metals. It's malleable and ductile, taking polish well. Pure nickel is rarely used alone; almost all production goes into alloys with other metals.
What is nickel used for?
About 70% of all nickel production goes into stainless steel, where it typically makes up 8-10% of the alloy to provide corrosion resistance and the characteristic silvery finish. Rechargeable batteries (NiMH, NiCd, and increasingly Li-ion with high-nickel cathodes) use significant amounts. The US five-cent coin is 25% nickel, though most coins worldwide use only nickel plating now. Other uses include electroplating, magnets, electric guitar strings, kitchenware, and as a catalyst in chemical processes like hydrogenating vegetable oils.
Why are nickel allergies so common?
About 10-20% of people develop a nickel allergy at some point in their lives, making it the most common metal allergy by a wide margin. Symptoms include itchy red rashes and skin irritation where nickel-containing objects touch the skin, often from jewelry, watch backings, belt buckles, or coins. Once developed, nickel allergy is usually lifelong. Sensitization is more common in people who get ear piercings, and the EU has restricted nickel content in jewelry to reduce sensitization rates. Stainless steel jewelry can trigger reactions if it contains free nickel.
Nickel is the metal you probably don't think about, but it shows up everywhere: in your stainless steel pots, your laptop battery, your spare change, and possibly your earrings. It's industrial backbone and skin irritant all in one element.
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