It was 1751. In little Sweden, thanks to the scientist Axel Frederik Krondstedt, element number 17 appeared. At that time, there were only 12 known metals, plus sulfur, phosphorus, carbon and arsenic. They accepted a newcomer into their company, his name is nickel.
A bit of history
Many years before this miraculous discovery, miners from Saxony were familiar with ore that could be mistaken for copper ore. Attempts to extract copper from this material were futile. Feeling cheated, the ore began to be called "kupfernickel" (in Russian - "copper devil").
Krondstedt, an expert in minerals, became interested in this ore. After much work, a new metal was obtained, which was called nickel. Bergman took over the research baton. He further refined the metal and came to the conclusion that this element resembles iron.
Physical properties of nickel
Nickel is included in the tenth group of elements and is in the fourth period of the periodic table under the atomic number 28. If you take away the symbol Ni in the table, this is nickel. It has a shade of yellow, on a silver base. Even in the air metaldoes not fade. Solid and quite viscous. It lends itself well to forging, so that very thin products can be made. Perfectly polished. Nickel can be attracted with a magnet. Even at a temperature of 340 degrees with a minus sign, the magnetic features of nickel are visible. Nickel is a metal resistant to corrosion. It exhibits low chemical activity. What can be said about the chemical properties of nickel?
Chemical properties
What is needed to determine the qualitative composition of nickel? Here it is necessary to list what atoms (namely their number) our metal consists of. The molar mass (it is also called the atomic mass) is 58.6934 (g / mol). The measurements have moved on. The radius of the atom of our metal is 124 pm. When measuring the radius of the ion, the result showed (+2e) 69 pm, and the number 115 pm is the covalent radius. According to the scale of the famous crystallographer and great chemist Pauling, the electronegativity is 1.91, and the electronic potential is 0.25 V.
The effects of air and water on nickel are almost negligible. The same can be said about alkali. Why does this metal react like this? NiO is created on its surface. This is a coating in the form of a film that prevents oxidation. If nickel is heated to a very high temperature, then it begins to react with oxygen, and also acts with halogens, and with all.
If nickel gets into nitric acid, the reaction will not take long. It also readily activates in solutions containing ammonia.
But not all acid works on nickel. Acids such as hydrochloric and sulfuric,dissolve it very slowly but surely. And attempts to do the same with nickel in phosphoric acid were not successful at all.
Nickel in nature
The conjectures of scientists are that the core of our planet is an alloy in which iron contains 90%, and nickel is 10 times less. There is the presence of cob alt - 0.6%. In the process of rotation, nickel atoms got out into the layer of the earth's cover. They are the founders of copper-nickel sulfide ores, together with copper and sulfur. Some of the more daring nickel atoms didn't stop there and pushed their way further. Atoms rushed to the surface in company with chromium, magnesium, and iron. Further, fellow travelers of our metal were oxidized and detached.
Felsic and ultrabasic rocks occur on the surface of the globe. According to scientists, the content of nickel in acidic rocks is much lower than in ultramafic ones. Therefore, the soil and vegetation there are fairly well enriched in nickel. But the journey of the hero under discussion in the biosphere and water was not so noticeable.
Nickel ores
Industrial nickel ores are divided into two types.
- Sulfide copper-nickel. Minerals: magnesium, pyrrhotite, cubanite, milerite, petlandite, sperrylite - that's what is contained in these ores. Thanks to the magma that formed them. Sulphide ores can also produce palladium, gold, and more.
- Silicate nickel ores. They are loose, like clay. Ores of this type are ferruginous, siliceous, magnesian.
Where nickel is used
Nickel is widely used in such a powerful industry as metallurgy. Namely, in the manufacture of a wide variety of alloys. Basically, the alloy includes iron, nickel and cob alt. There are many alloys based on nickel. Our metal is combined into an alloy, for example, with titanium, chromium, molybdenum. Nickel is also used to protect products that corrode quickly. These products are nickel-plated, that is, they create a special nickel coating that does not allow corrosion to do its opposite.
Nickel is a very good catalyst. Therefore, it is actively used in the chemical industry. These are devices, chemical dishes, devices for various applications. For chemicals, food, delivery of alkalis, storage of essential oils, tanks and reservoirs made of nickel materials are used. Nuclear technology, television, a variety of devices, the list of which is very long, cannot do without this metal.
If you look into such a field as instrument making, and then into the field of mechanical engineering, you will notice that anodes and cathodes are nickel sheets. And this is not the whole list of applications of such a simply wonderful metal. The importance of nickel in medicine should not be underestimated either.
Nickel in medicine
Nickel is widely used in medicine. First, let's take the tools necessary for the operation. The result of the operation depends not only on the doctor himself, but also on the quality of the instrument with which he works. Instruments undergo numerous sterilizations, and if they are made of an alloy that does not include nickel, then corrosion will not take long. And tools made from steel that contains nickel last much longer.
In terms of implants, nickel alloys are used to make them. Nickel-containing steel has a high degree of strength. Devices for fixing bones, prostheses, screws - everything is made of this steel. In dentistry, implants have also taken their strong position. Bugels, stainless steel braces are used by orthodontists.
Nickel in living organisms
If you look at the world from the bottom up, the picture emerges something like this. We have soil under our feet. The nickel content in it is higher than in vegetation. But if we consider this vegetation under the prism that interests us, then a large nickel content is found in legumes. And in cereals, the percentage of nickel is increasing.
Let's briefly consider the average content of nickel in plants, marine and terrestrial animals. And, of course, in humans. The measurement is in weight percent. So, the mass of nickel in plants is 510-5. Land animals 110-6, marine animals 1, 610-4. And a human has a nickel content of 1-210-6.
The role of nickel in the human body
You always want to be a he althy and beautiful person. Nickel is one of the important trace elements in the human body. Nickel usually accumulates in the lungs, kidneys and liver. Accumulations of nickel in humansfound in hair, thyroid and pancreas. And that's not all. What does metal do in the body? Here we can safely say that he is a Swiss, a reaper, and a player on the pipe. Namely:
- trying to help oxygenate cells, not without success;
- oxidation-reduction work in tissues also falls on the shoulders of nickel;
- does not hesitate to participate in the regulation of the hormonal background of the body;
- safely oxidizes vitamin C;
- it can be noted his involvement in the metabolism of fats;
- excellent nickel affects blood formation.
I would like to note the great importance of nickel in the cell. This trace element protects the cell membrane and nucleic acids, namely their design.
Although the list of nickel's worthy works can be continued. From the above, we note that the body needs nickel. This trace element enters our body through food. Usually there is enough nickel in the body, because it needs very little. Alarming bells of the lack of our metal is the appearance of dermatitis. Here is the value of nickel in the human body.
Nickel alloys
There are many different nickel alloys. Let's note the main three groups.
The first group includes nickel and copper alloys. They are called nickel-copper alloys. In whatever proportions these two elements are fused, the result is amazing and, most importantly, without surprises. Homogeneous alloy guaranteed. If it contains more copper than nickel, then the properties are more pronouncedcopper, and if nickel predominates, the alloy exhibits nickel character.
Nickel-copper alloys are popular in the production of coins, machine parts. The alloy Constantine, which is almost 60% copper and the rest nickel, is used to create higher precision equipment.
Consider an alloy with nickel and chromium. Nichromes. Resistant to corrosion, acids, heat resistant. Such alloys are used for jet engines, nuclear reactors, but only if they contain up to 80% nickel.
Let's move on to the third group of alloys. These are iron alloys. They are divided into 4 types.
- Heat resistant - resistant to high temperatures. This alloy contains almost 50% nickel. Here the combination can be with molybdenum, titanium, aluminum.
- Magnetic - increase magnetic permeability, often used in electrical engineering.
- Anti-corrosion - this alloy is indispensable in the production of chemical equipment, as well as when working in an aggressive environment. The alloy contains molybdenum.
- An alloy that retains its size and elasticity. Thermocouple in the oven. This is where the alloy comes in. When heated, the dimensions of the dimensions are preserved, and elasticity is not lost. How much nickel is needed to make an alloy with such properties? The metal in the alloy should be approximately 40%.
Nickel in everyday life
If you look around, you can understand that nickel alloys surround a person everywhere. Let's start with furniture. The alloy protects the base of the furniture from damage, harmful effects. Let's take a look at the accessories. Though on window, though on furniture. She canLong lasting and looks very nice. Let's continue our tour to the bathroom. No nickel here. Shower heads, faucet, faucet - all nickel-plated. Thanks to this, you can forget what corrosion is. And it's not embarrassing to look at the product, because it looks cute and supports the decor. Nickel-plated parts are found in decorative buildings.
Nickel is by no means a minor metal. Various minerals and ores can boast the presence of nickel. I am glad that such an element is present on our planet and even in the human body. Here he plays not the last violin in hematopoietic processes and even in DNA. Widely used in technology. Nickel has won its dominance due to its chemical resistance in protecting coatings.
Nickel is a metal with a great future. Indeed, in some areas it is indispensable.
