Nickel is a silvery-white metallic element with atomic number 28 and symbol Ni, belonging to the transition metals group in the periodic table. It is a hard, ductile metal with excellent corrosion resistance and magnetic properties at room temperature, making it valuable for numerous industrial applications. Found primarily in ore deposits alongside iron and copper, nickel is most commonly used in the production of stainless steel (which typically contains 8-12% nickel) and other corrosion-resistant alloys, as well as in rechargeable batteries, coins, plating, and catalysts. 

With its combination of strength, durability, and resistance to oxidation, nickel plays a crucial role in modern technology and infrastructure, from kitchen appliances and architectural structures to aerospace components and green energy systems.

20 Fun Facts About Nickel

Beyond the basics above, what else should we know about nickel? Check out the 20 fun facts below!

1. Nickel gets its name from German miners who called it “kupfernickel” (devil’s copper) because the ore looked like copper but yielded no copper when smelted.
2. The U.S. five-cent coin called a “nickel” actually contains only 25% nickel – the rest is copper.
3. Nickel can make glass green when added during manufacturing, which is why some vintage Coca-Cola bottles have a greenish tint.
4. Canada produces about 10% of the world’s nickel, with massive deposits in Sudbury, Ontario created by a meteorite impact 1.8 billion years ago.
5. Nickel is the fifth most common element on Earth, but most of it is locked in the planet’s core alongside iron.
6. Some people can detect nickel allergies using a dimethylglyoxime test – the chemical turns bright pink when it contacts nickel.
7. The first pure nickel coin was minted in Switzerland in 1881.
8. Nickel foam is used in some alkaline fuel cells because its porous structure provides massive surface area for chemical reactions.
9. Ancient Chinese weapons from around 200 BCE contained nickel, likely from meteorites.
10. Nickel can form beautiful blue-green crystals when combined with sulfate in the mineral morenosite.
11. The element is essential for plants to produce urease, an enzyme that helps process nitrogen.
12. Nickel-titanium alloy, called Nitinol, has shape memory – it can return to its original shape when heated after being deformed.
13. Russia’s Norilsk Nickel produces more nickel than any other company, accounting for about 20% of global production.
14. Nickel electroplating was accidentally discovered in 1837 by a Birmingham surgeon trying to make medical instruments.
15. The element can survive temperatures up to 1,455°C (2,651°F) before melting.
16. Nickel is one of only four elements that are ferromagnetic at room temperature (along with iron, cobalt, and gadolinium).
17. Some deep-sea hydrothermal vent bacteria use nickel-containing enzymes to produce methane.
18. Nickel superalloys can retain their strength at temperatures exceeding 1,000°C (1,832°F), which is why they’re crucial for jet engine turbine blades that must withstand extreme heat and stress.
19. Nickel can form colorful compounds – nickel chloride is green, nickel sulfate is blue, and nickel bromide is yellow.
20. Indonesia became the world’s largest nickel producer in 2020, surpassing the Philippines, primarily due to its booming electric vehicle battery industry.

Thanks for reading!