Ni - Nickel

Nickel is a versatile metal with a variety of physical characteristics, applications, and compounds. 

Physical Characteristics

• Appearance: Nickel is a lustrous, silvery-white metal.
• Structure: It has a face-centered cubic crystal structure.
• Magnetic Properties: Nickel is ferromagnetic at room temperature, meaning it can be magnetized.
• Melting Point: It has a melting point of about 1,455°C (2,651°F).
• Density: Its density is approximately 8.90 g/cm³ at room temperature.

Applications

• Alloys: Nickel is most commonly used in the creation of alloys. It’s added to stainless steel to improve its corrosion resistance, toughness, and strength at high temperatures. Alloys like Inconel, Monel, and Nichrome are primarily composed of nickel.
• Batteries: Nickel is a key component in various types of rechargeable batteries, including nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries.
• Catalysis: Nickel is used as a catalyst in a number of chemical reactions, most notably in hydrogenation reactions where unsaturated organic compounds are converted into saturated compounds.
• Plating: Nickel plating is commonly used to coat other metals to protect them against corrosion and wear.

Compounds

• Nickel Sulfate (NiSO₄): Used in nickel plating and as a chemical intermediate to produce other nickel compounds.
• Nickel Chloride (NiCl₂): Utilized in electroplating and as a catalyst in organic synthesis.
• Nickel Oxide (NiO): Employed in the production of nickel steel and certain types of batteries. Also used as a catalyst in some industrial processes.
• Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd): Found in rechargeable batteries, offering high energy density and good performance in a wide range of temperatures.

Basics on Nickel-Wikipedia