Nickel

Nickel is a valuable catalyst used in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils and a corrosion-resistant alloy used with many metals:

Stainless steel   (Cr = 17 %, Ni = 12 %, Mo = 2.5 %, Si = 1.6 %, C = 0.1 %, rest = Fe ) give steels high tensile strength and resistance to abrasion and corrosion.

Monel (67% Ni, 33% Cu) resists seawater, chlorinated solvents, most acids, and practically all alkalis (bases).

Invar (48% Ni, 50% Fe and small amounts of Cr, Mn, Si, C, Mg, Al) has low expansion under high temperatures.

Inconel (Ni-Cr-Fe alloy containing 16% Cr, and 8% Fe) resists severe corrosion and high temperatures.

Hastelloys (Ni, 16% Cr, 15% Mo, rest Fe) resists corrosion and high temperatures.

Nichrome (25% Fe, 15% Cr, rest Ni ) resists heating in wire.

Permalloy (Ni 80%, Fe 20%) can be made highly magnetic.

Constantin (45% Ni, 55% Cu) has high electrical resistance for motors and generators.

Nitinol (56% Ni, 44% Ti), when deformed, will return to its original shape upon heating.

Tubing made of copper-nickel alloy is used in desalination plants for converting sea water into potable water, nickel-steel is used for armour plate and burglar-proof vaults. &nbp; Nickel also is plated to other metals to obtain a corrosive-resistant protective coating.   It is also used in ceramics, Alnico magnets, and in storage batteries.   Nickel sulfates and oxides are important compounds in many industries. ^{Lide 4-19}

Nickel is essential to plant life and some animal life, but not yet proved essential to humans.   In plants, it is required for the enzyme urease to break down fertilizer urea (CON₂H₄) [structure] ^{Word n.p.} to release the nitrogen into a usable form.   Nickel is required for iron absorption and seed production and germination. ^{Morgan n.p.}

Nickel was discovered in 1751 by Axel Cronsted, a Swedish mineralogist, from the ore kupfernickel (niccolite).   Nickel is obtained commercially from pentlandite and pyrrhotite ores located in the Sudbury region of Ontario, Canada, a region that produces much of the world's nickel. ^{Lide 4-19}