Chemical Fact Sheet
Nickel
| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) | 7440-02-0 |
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| Synonyms | CI-77775; NI 0901-S; RANEY-NICKEL; RCH-55/5; NI 0901-S (HARSHAW); NICHEL- (ITALIAN); NICKEL-SPONGE; NP-2; NP-2; RANEY-ALLOY; NI-270; NI-4303T; NI-4303T; NICKEL-270; Nickel-200; Nickel-201; Nickel-205; Nickel-207; CARBONYL-NICKEL-POWDER |
| Analytical Methods | 200.7 - 200.8 - 6010 - 6020 |
| Molecular Formula | Ni |
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Synopsis
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Nickel - (Ger. Nickel, Satan or Old Nick's and from kupfernickel, Old Nick's copper), Ni; at. wt. 58.6934(2); at. no. 28; m.p. 1455 deg C; b.p. 2913 deg C; sp. gr. 8.902 (25 deg C); valence 0, 1, 2, 3. Discovered by Cronstedt in 1751 in kupfernickel (niccolite). Nickel is found as a constituent in most meteorites and often serves as one of the criteria for distinguishing a meteorite from other minerals. Iron meteorites, or siderites, may contain iron alloyed with from 5 to nearly 20% nickel. Nickel is obtained commercially from pentlandite and pyrrhotite of the Sudbury region of Ontario, a district that produces much of the world's nickel. It is now thought that the Sudbury deposit,is the result of an ancient meteorite impact. Other deposits of nickel are found in Russia, New Caledonia, Australia, Cuba, Indonesia, and elsewhere. Nickel is silvery white and takes on a high polish. It is hard, malleable, ductile, somewhat ferromagnetic, and a fair conductor of heat and electricity. It belongs to the iron-cobalt group of metals and is chiefly valuable for the alloys it forms. It is extensively used for making stainless-steel and other corrosion-resistant alloys such as Invar(R), Monel(R), Inconel(R), and the Hastelloys(R). Tubing made of a copper-nickel alloy is extensively used in making desalination plants for converting sea water into fresh water. Nickel is also now used extensively in coinage and in making nickel steel for armor plate and burglar-proof vaults, and is a component in Nichrome(R), Permalloy(R), and constantan. Nickel added to glass gives a green color. Nickel plating is often used to provide a protective coating for other metals, and finely divided nickel is a catalyst for hydrogenating vegetable oils. It is also used in ceramics, in the manufacture of Alnico magnets, and in the Edison(R) storage battery. The sulfate and the oxides are important compounds. Natural nickel is a mixture of five stable isotopes; nineteen other unstable isotopes are known. Nickel sulfide fume and dust is recognized as having carcinogenic potential. Nickel metal (99.9%) is priced at about$100/kg or less in larger quantities. |
| Consumption Patterns | FERROUS ALLOYS, 44%; OTHER ALLOYS, 32%; ELECTROPLATING, 20%; OTHER, 4% (1982). Transportation, 25%, chemical industry, 15%; electrical equipment, 9%; construction, 9%; fabricated metal products, 9%; petroleum, 8%; household appliances, 7%; machinery, 7%; and other, 11% (1986). |
| Apparent Color | SILVERY METAL |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Boiling Point | 2730 deg C |
| Melting Point | 1455 deg C |
| Molecular Weight | 58.70 |
| Density | 8.90 |
| Sensitivity Data | EYE IRRITATION IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO AEROSOLS FROM NICKEL ELECTROLYSIS TANKS HAS BEEN REPORTED. |
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Chemical and Physical Properties |
HEAT CAPACITY @ 25 DEG C: 6.23 CAL/G-ATOM/DEG C; MOHS' HARDNESS 3.8; LATENT HEAT OF FUSION 73 CAL/G; ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY @ 20 DEG C: 6.844 MICROOHMS/CM; BURNS IN OXYGEN, FORMING NICKEL OXIDE; DECOMP STEAM @ A RED HEAT; SLOWLY ATTACKED BY DIL HYDROCHLORIC OR SULFURIC ACID; READILY ATTACKED BY NITRIC ACID; FIVE NATURALLY OCCURRING ISOTOPES: 58 (67.76%); 60 (26.16%); 61 (1.25%); 62 (3.66%); 64 (1.16%); ARTIFICIAL ISOTOPES: 56; 57; 59; 63; 65-67 NOT ATTACKED BY FUSED ALKALI HYDROXIDES READILY FABRICATED BY HOT & COLD WORKING; TAKES HIGH POLISH; EXCELLENT RESISTANCE TO CORROSION. ATOMIC NUMBER 28; VALENCE 2; SELDOM 1,3,4. Dark gray powder or crystal; Pyrophoric. Crystallizes as metallic cubes. |
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Environmental Impact |
Occupational groups such as nickel workers and other workers handling nickel comprise the indivduals at the highest risk. Women, particularly housewives, are at special risk to nickel induced skin disorders because of the greater than average contact with nickel containing materials. Approximately 47 million individuals, comprising the smoking population of the United States, are potentially at risk for possible co-factor effects of nickel in adverse effects on the respiratory tract. HIGHEST RISK OF MORTALITY FROM CANCER OF RESP TRACT IS FOUND AMONG NICKEL MINE WORKERS INVOLVED IN ROASTING, SMELTING, & ELECTROLYSIS. Occupational exposures to nickel and its cmpd occur in mining and comminution of nickel containing ores; nickel refining and smelting; nickel electroplating; producing and using nickel catalysts; fabricating parts and structures by welding, flame spraying, cutting, grinding, and polishing of nickel containing alloys; manufacturing nickel cadmium batteries; constructing nickel molds in glass bottle factories; spraying nickel containing paints (eg, yellow nickel titanate pigment); and recycling or disposal of nickel containing products. Occupations at risk for nickel dermatitis included metal worker, electroplater, ladies' hairdresser, nurse, tailor, cook, waitress, cleaning women, typist, office clerk, dental assistant, medical assistant, electronics worker, dairy maid, librarian, chemical cleaner, engine fitter, turner, locksmith, car driver, chemical worker, television engineer, and radiologist. EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES CONCLUSIVELY DEMONSTRATE AN EXCESS OF CANCER OF THE NASAL CAVITY & LUNG IN WORKERS IN NICKEL REFINERIES. IT IS LIKELY THAT NICKEL IN SOME FORM IS CARCINOGENIC TO MAN. |
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Environmental Fate |
ABUNDANCE IN EARTH'S CRUST 0.018%. OCCURS FREE IN METEORITES. FOUND IN MANY ORES AS SULFIDES, ARSENIDES, ANTIMONIDES & OXIDES OR SILICATES; CHIEF SOURCES INCL CHALCOPYRITE PYRRHOTITE, PENTLANDITE ((FE,NI)958) & GARNIERITE (3(MG,NI)O.-2SIO2.2H2O); OTHER ORES INCL NICCOLITE & MILLERITE (NIS). NICKEL CONSTITUTES 0.03% OF THE PARTICULATE MATTER SUSPENDED IN ATMOSPHERE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT PURE NICKEL POWDERS OF LESS THAN 1 U IN SIZE ARE DEPOSITED AS METEORITIC DUST FROM STRATOSPHERE. Natural sources of airborne particles that contain nickel include soil, sea, volcanoes, forest fires, and vegetation. Average concn of nickel in the earth's crust is 60-90 mg/kg. ENVIRONMENAL ACCUMULATION: NICKEL POWDER'S INCR USAGE ENHANCES PROBABILITY OF ITS APPEARANCE IN ATMOSPHERE @ NICKEL PRODN PLANTS. THE AVG CONCN IN USA IN 1964 & 1965 WAS 340 NG/CU M. NICKEL FINDS ITS WAY INTO ATMOSPHERE AS RESULT OF COMBUSTION OF COAL, DIESEL OIL & FUEL OIL. Food processing methods apparently add to the nickel levels already present in foodstuffs via (1) leaching from nickel containing alloys in food processing equipment made from stainless steel, (2) the milling of flour, and (3) catalytic hydrogenation of fats and oils by use of nickel catalysts. The atmosphere is a major conduit for nickel as particulate matter. Contributions to atmospheric loading come from both natural sources and anthropogenic activity, with input from both stationary and mobile sources. Various dry and wet precipitation processes remove particulate matter as wash out or fallout from the atmosphere with transfer to soils and waters. Soil borne nickel may enter waters by surface runoff or by percolation into ground water. Once nickel is in surface and ground water systems, physical and chemical interactions (complexation, precipitation/dissolution, adsorption/desorption, and oxidation/reduction) occur that will determine its fate and that of its constituents. No data was found to suggest that nickel is involved in any biological transformation in the aquatic environment. Aerial fallout from a nickel smelter at Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, resulted in accumulation of nickel ranging from 600 to 6455 mg/kg in the organic soil of a farm. Uncontaminated agricultural soils in Canada generally contain less than 30 mg nickel (Ni)/kg. Soils derived from serpentine rock may contain up to 25,000 mg Ni/kg, although a more typical value is 1000 mg/kg. Accumulations of Ni in soil exceeding 1000 mg/kg occur within 1-2 km of large nickel smelters. Routes of nickel intake for man and animals are inhalation, ingestion, and percutaneous exposure. The toxicologically important routes of entry for nickel, metal & sol compounds (as Ni) are inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, and skin and/or eye contact. |
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Disposal |
At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": There is no universal method of disposal that has been proved satisfactory for all carcinogenic compounds & specific methods of chem destruction published have not been tested on all kinds of carcinogen-containing waste. Summary of avail methods & recommendations given must be treated as guide only. PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS":Incineration may be only feasible method for disposal of contaminated laboratory waste from biological expt. However, not all incinerators are suitable for this purpose.The most efficient type is probably the gas fired type, in which a first-stage combustion with a less than stoichiometric air:fuel ratio is followed by a second stage with excess air. Some are designed to accept aqueous & organic solvent solutions, otherwise it is necessary to absorb soln onto suitable combustible material, such as sawdust. Alternatively, chem destruction may be used, esp when small quantities are to be destroyed in laboratory. PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestor) filters can be disposed of by incineration. For spent charcoal filters, the adsorbed material can be stripped off at high temp & carcinogenic wastes generated by this treatment conducted to & burned in an incinerator. LIQUID WASTE:Disposal should be carried out by incineration at temp that ensure complete combustion. SOLID WASTE: Carcasses of lab animals, cage litter & misc solid wastes should be disposed of by incineration at temp high enough to ensure destruction of chem carcinogens or their metabolites. PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS":Small quantities of some carcinogens can be destroyed using chem reactions but no general rules can be given. As a general technique treatment with sodium dichromate in strong sulfuric acid can be used. The time necessary for destruction is seldom known but 1-2 days is generally considered sufficient when freshly prepd reagent is used. Carcinogens that are easily oxidizable can be destroyed with milder oxidative agents, such as sat soln of potassium permanganate in acetone, which appears to be a suitable agent for destruction of hydrazines or of compounds containing isolated carbon-carbon double bonds. Concn or 50% aqueous sodium hypochlorite can also be used as an oxidizing agent. Nickel treatment is frequently combined with treatment for other contaminants treatment at high pH, plus clarification, is capable of reducing residual nickel concentrations to less than 1.0 mg/l. Precipitation is the preferred treatment process for removing toxic heavy metals from electroplating waters. Precipitation processes include hydroxide, lime and/or sulfide treatment. Chemical reduction is used to treat complex metals such as nickel, copper, hexavalent chromium waste, soluble lead, silver, metal containing cyanide, and mercury. Adsorption has shown potential for treating and polishing aqueous metal bearing wastes. Activated carbon, activated alumina, and iron filings are all applicable adsorbents. Alkaline chlorination and incineration are effective cyanide destruction treatments. Evaporation, ion-exchange, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and electrolytic recovery are waste reduction and recovery techniques applicable to metal bearing hazardous streams. |
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Atmosphere |
Typical average levels of airborne nickel are: 0.00001-0.003 ug/cu m in remote areas; 0.003-0.03 ug/cu m in urban areas having no metallurgical industry; 0.07-0.77 ug/cu m in nickel processing areas. |
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