Nickel Research Paper

James Allen Morrison 10/6-9/14

I have chosen the element Nickel, which is atomic number 28 in the transition metals. The purpose of this paper is to educate the reader with a basic understanding and knowledge about this element. I will cover specific information such as subatomic particles and availability in nature as well as information on the element’s isotopes.

First of all, the element was not recognized to be different than iron until the 1600’s. Miners in Germany were trying to extract copper from ore, but were unsuccessful at any rate. They narrowed their problem down to a dark red ore, often with a green coating. This was the first accurate physical description given to the element. The miners gave the new irritating ore the name
The subatomic particles of the element Nickel are: 28 protons, 30 neutrons, and 28 electrons. The primary form of nickel has a positive 2+ charge overall. The electron configuration is [Ar] 3d8 4s2.(Which breaks down to 2 electrons in the first level, 8 in the second, 16 in the third, and 2 valence electrons.) The element has an atomic mass of 58.693 amu(atomic mass unit), which is actually smaller than the element before it-Cobalt. The element has physical characteristics of a hard, silvery-white metal, that is malleable and ductile. Another property of Nickel and its compounds is that they are extremely toxic;approximately 10 to 20 percent of people are sensitive to nickel. Repeated contact with it leads to skin complaints (dermatitis);in addition, Nickel Carbonyl is a very toxic gas compound of Nickel. Nickel is most commonly found in an ore form in pentlandite and pyrrhotite (nickel-iron sulfides), garnierite (nickel-magnesium silicate), millerite (nickel sulfide) and niccolite (nickel arsenic). 30 percent of the minerals that Nickel comes from is found in Ontario, Canada; however, unlike the majority of the transition metals, Nickel is
They are 58(30 neutrons), 60(32 neutrons), 61(33 neutrons), 62(34 neutrons), and 64(36 neutrons). Each of the isotopes share a common number of protons, as isotopes should, as well as similar properties. Most of these isotopes are found in compounds and ores that are in mines or meteorites on earth;however, 61-64 are extremely rare on Earth, but are very common in our solar system. The breakdown of their natural abundance is; 58-- the most abundant--68.077%, 60 is 26.223%, 61 is 1.1399%, 62 is 3.6346%, and 64 is 0.9255%. The economic values vary greatly on where it is in the world and what the economy’s condition is. For example, they have a great value in the EU and Russia, but not so much in China and the U.S.. Finally, the uses of each isotope is as listed: 58- used in magnets, magnetic shields and currency. 59- used in radioactive isotope geology.60- product of supernovas. 61- EPR spectroscopy. 62- high bonding ability. 64- used in the creation of