Quick answerNickel (Ni) is a transition metal with atomic number 28 and an atomic mass of 58.693 (2023), in group 10, period 4. It was discovered by Axel Fredrik Cronstedt in 1751. It is used for stainless steel production and rechargeable batteries. Its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d8 4s2.
Nickel is the metal that makes stainless steel stainless, shielding cutlery, sinks, and surgical tools from rust. It also plates coins, powers rechargeable batteries, and catalyses the reactions that turn vegetable oil into margarine. Its silvery shine hides a metal that is essential to modern industry, and a common cause of skin allergies.
Key facts
| Symbol | Ni |
|---|---|
| Atomic number | 28 |
| Atomic mass | 58.693 (IUPAC standard atomic weight, 2023) |
| Category | transition metal |
| Group | 10 |
| Period | 4 |
| Block | d-block |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 3d8 4s2 |
| Discovered | Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, 1751 |
| Uses | stainless steel production, rechargeable batteries, coinage, electroplating, catalysts in chemical manufacturing |
Overview
Nickel is the metal that makes stainless steel stainless, shielding cutlery, sinks and surgical tools from rust. It has atomic number 28, an atomic mass of 58.693, and the electron configuration [Ar] 3d8 4s2, and it sits in group 10, period 4 of the periodic table. Axel Fredrik Cronstedt isolated it in 1751 from an ore that miners had cursed as fool's copper, and named it after Nickel, a mischievous spirit of German folklore. Nickel's main use is in alloys: about two-thirds of all nickel goes into stainless steel, and the rest into other alloys, plating and batteries. It plates coins and taps, powers rechargeable batteries in phones and electric cars, and catalyses the reactions that turn vegetable oil into margarine and refine fuels. Nickel is found in ores mined in Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia, and in the iron of meteorites. It is a hard, silvery metal that resists corrosion and keeps its shine, which is why it has lined coins and cutlery for centuries. It is also one of the most common causes of skin allergy: cheap jewellery and watch straps can irritate the skin of people sensitive to it.
Frequently asked questions
What is nickel used for?
Nickel is mainly used to make stainless steel, which takes about two-thirds of all nickel mined, and it also goes into other alloys, plating and rechargeable batteries. It plates coins, catalyses the reactions that turn vegetable oil into margarine, and refines fuels. It is also found in meteorites and in some coins.
What is the symbol for nickel?
The chemical symbol for nickel is Ni, from its name, which comes from Nickel, a mischievous spirit of German folklore. Miners cursed its ore as fool's copper because it looked like copper ore but yielded none. Axel Fredrik Cronstedt isolated it in 1751, and it has atomic number 28 and an atomic mass of 58.693.
What is the atomic number of nickel?
Nickel has atomic number 28, so it is the twenty-eighth element in the periodic table. Its atom holds twenty-eight protons and twenty-eight electrons, and its standard atomic mass is 58.693. It is a transition metal in group 10 and period 4, with the electron configuration [Ar] 3d8 4s2, and it makes stainless steel stainless.
Is nickel a metal?
Yes, nickel is a metal, a transition metal in group 10 of the periodic table. It is hard, silvery-white and magnetic, and it resists corrosion, which is why it is used in stainless steel, coins and plating. It is also one of the most common causes of skin allergy, so people sensitive to it avoid cheap jewellery and watch straps.
Is nickel magnetic?
Yes, nickel is magnetic. It is one of only a few elements that are ferromagnetic at room temperature, alongside iron and cobalt. Its magnetism is weaker than iron's, but it is strong enough for use in magnets, electric motors and magnetic storage. Nickel keeps its magnetism up to a high temperature, which makes it useful in alloys.
Quick quiz
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Keep exploring
- Periodic table — all 118 elements
- Scandium (Sc) — another transition metal, atomic number 21
- Titanium (Ti) — another transition metal, atomic number 22
- Vanadium (V) — another transition metal, atomic number 23
- Chromium (Cr) — another transition metal, atomic number 24
- Manganese (Mn) — another transition metal, atomic number 25
- Iron (Fe) — another transition metal, atomic number 26
- Cobalt (Co) — another transition metal, atomic number 27
- Copper (Cu) — another transition metal, atomic number 29
- Zinc (Zn) — another transition metal, atomic number 30
- Yttrium (Y) — another transition metal, atomic number 39
- All transition metal elements — on the periodic table
Sources & last updated
- CIAAW — Standard Atomic Weights
- PubChem Periodic Table
- Wikipedia — Timeline of chemical element discoveries
Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.