Nickel (Ni)
The US five-cent coin, known as a 'nickel', is actually 75% copper and only 25% nickel.
Nickel properties
- Atomic mass
- 58.693 u
- Category
- Transition metal
- Group
- 10
- Period
- 4
- Block
- d-block
- State at room temp.
- Solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.91
- Melting point
- 1,728 K (1,454.8 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3,186 K (2,912.8 °C)
- Density
- 8.908 g/cm³
- Common charges
- +2, +3
- Oxidation states
- +3, +2
- Atomic radius
- 163 pm
- Ionization energy
- 7.64 eV
- Electron affinity
- 1.156 eV
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- 1751
Nickel electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d8 4s2
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d8 4s2
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 16 · 2
The electron configuration of Nickel (Ni) is [Ar] 3d8 4s2. Its 28 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 16, 2.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Nickel
A neutral Nickel atom has 28 protons and 28 electrons. Most Nickel atoms have about 31 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 59, minus the atomic number 28.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Nickel have?
2
Nickel has 2 valence electrons, counting the electrons in its outermost s subshell. Like most transition metals, it can also use d electrons in bonding.
Nickel orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Nickel
58.693 g/mol
One mole of Nickel atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 58.693 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Compounds containing Nickel
Nickel facts
- The US five-cent coin, known as a 'nickel', is actually 75% copper and only 25% nickel.
- Nickel is one of the few elements that are strongly magnetic at room temperature, along with iron and cobalt.
- Nickel (Ni) has atomic number 28 and is a solid at room temperature. It was discovered in 1751.
Position in the periodic table
Nickel is element 28, in period 4 and group 10 of the periodic table, in the d-block.
Uses of Nickel
Nickel's main use is in stainless steel, where it adds toughness and corrosion resistance. It is also used for nickel plating, in heat-resistant superalloys for gas turbines and jet engines, and in rechargeable batteries, from nickel-metal hydride cells to the nickel-rich cathodes of many electric car batteries. Nickel alloys are also used for heating elements in toasters and electric heaters.
Who discovered Nickel?
Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt discovered nickel in 1751 while trying to extract copper from a reddish ore that miners called kupfernickel, or 'copper demon'. The ore looked like copper ore but yielded no copper, and Cronstedt showed it contained a new metal instead.
Where does the name come from?
Nickel is a shortened form of the German Kupfernickel, roughly 'copper demon', a miners' name for an ore that looked like copper ore but yielded no copper. Axel Fredrik Cronstedt, who identified the metal in 1751, shortened the name.
Same group
Compare Nickel
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Nickel?
The electron configuration of Nickel (Ni) is [Ar] 3d8 4s2. Its 28 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 16, 2.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Nickel have?
A neutral Nickel atom has 28 protons and 28 electrons. Most Nickel atoms have about 31 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 59, minus the atomic number 28.
How many valence electrons does Nickel have?
Nickel has 2 valence electrons, counting the electrons in its outermost s subshell. Like most transition metals, it can also use d electrons in bonding.
What is the molar mass of Nickel?
The molar mass of Nickel is 58.693 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 58.693 u.
Is Nickel a metal?
Yes. Nickel is a transition metal, so it is a metal.
Is Nickel radioactive?
Ordinary Nickel is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Nickel on the periodic table?
Nickel is element 28, in period 4 and group 10 of the periodic table, in the d-block.