Nickel is a silvery-white lustrous metal, which is malleable and ductile. It is essentially impervious to oxidation, corrosion and rust and can withstand extreme temperatures. It has one of the highest melting and boiling points among metals with a melting point of 1453°C and a boiling point of 2732°C, aiding its use in high-temperature applications.
Nickel is an abundant element, though it is produced as a by-product of other metals. It is not found as a pure element in nature, though it occasionally occurs uncombined as an element. Along with being a common industrial metal, nickel is also a prized alloying agent in stainless steel, aircraft, medical and chemical equipment. Nickel is also used for currency coinage, jewelry, engineering alloys and in nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen batteries.
Nickel is a transition element that has a range of properties including magnetic and chemical properties. Nickel has three common oxidation states, 0 (Element), +2, and +3. Its diverse oxidation state means that its ability to form compounds depends heavily on the oxidation state present. For example, nickel hydroxide forms in the +2 oxidation state, while nickel chloride forms in the +3 state.
Nickel will form alloys with most metals, but it is often most famously used to alloy with steel or titanium. The use of nickel in alloys leads to harder and more corrosion-resistant metals. Nickel is also used as an alloying agent to supply the necessary strength and conductivity required to withstand certain environments, such as the chromium alloy used in turbine blades.
Nickel-based alloys are well known for their strength, durability and resistance to extremes in temperature and corrosive environments. Nickel is also catalytically active, making it an important element in many catalytic reactions. As a result, it is used in a variety of chemical processes. Some of these applications include chemical reaction catalysts such as Fischer- Tropsch and Haber-Bosch processes, and catalytic cracking in petroleum refining.
Nickel is an important element in the production of many chemical compounds. It is the base for most nickel salts, such as nickel chloride and nickel sulfate, which are used in industrial applications, such as electroplating and nickel-cadmium batteries. Nickel is also a common component in many nickel-base alloys, such as Inconel, Monel and Hastelloy, which are corrosion resistant and have high melting temperatures.
Nickel is a versatile metal, with a range of uses in everything from the industrial sector to consumer products. Its extreme temperature and corrosion resistance, combined with its strength, malleability and conductivity makes it an ideal choice for a range of applications. Because of its ability to form alloys, it is also useful in a range of other industries and can be used in the production of a variety of products. Nickel is an important strategic asset and as such, its use is likely to continue to grow in the future.
