Nickel compound

Nickel [7440-02-0] Ni, recognized as an element as early as 1754 (1), was not isolated until 1820 (2). It was mined from arsenic sulfide mineral deposits (3) and first used in an alloy called German Silver (4). Soon after, nickel was used as an anode in solutions of nickel sulfate [7786-81 A] NiSO, and nickel chloride [7718-54-9] NiCl, to electroplate jewelry. Nickel carbonyl [13463-39-3] Ni(C02)4, was discovered in 1890 (see Carbonyls). This material, distilled as a hquid, decomposes into carbon monoxide and pure nickel powder, a method used in nickel refining (5) (see Nickel and nickel alloys). 

Simple nickel salts form ammine and other coordination complexes (see Coordination compounds). The octahedral configuration, in which nickel has a coordination number (CN) of 6, is the most common stmctural form. The square-planar and tetrahedral configurations (11), iu which nickel has a coordination number of 4, are less common. Generally, the latter group tends to be reddish brown. The 5-coordinate square pyramid configuration is also quite common. These materials tend to be darker in color and mostiy green (12). 

Several nickel oxides are manufactured commercially. A sintered form of green nickel oxide is made by smelting a purified nickel matte at 1000°C (30) a powder form is made by the desulfurization of nickel matte. Black nickel oxide is made by the calcination of nickel carbonate at 600°C (31). The carbonate results from an extraction process whereby pure nickel metal powder is oxidized with air in the presence of ammonia (qv) and carbon dioxide (qv) to hexaamminenickel(TT) carbonate [67806-76-2], [Ni(NH3)3]C03 (32). Nickel oxides also ate made by the calcination of nickel carbonate or nickel nitrate that were made from a pure form of nickel. A high purity, green nickel oxide is made by firing a mixture of nickel powder and water in air (25). 

The sinter oxide form is used as charge nickel in the manufacture of alloy steels and stainless steels (see Steel). The oxide furnishes oxygen to the melt for decarburization and slagging. In 1993, 100, 000 metric tons of nickel contained in sinter oxide was shipped to the world s steel industry. Nickel oxide sinter is charged as a granular material to an electric furnace with steel scrap and ferrochrome the mixture is melted and blown with air to remove carbon as CO2. The melt is slagged, pouted into a ladle, the composition is adjusted, and the melt is cast into appropriate shapes. A modification of the use of sinter oxide is its injection directiy into the molten metal (33). 

Properties. Nickel sulfate hexahydrate [10101 -97-0], NiSo 6H20 is a monoclinic emerald-green crystalline salt that dissolves easily in water and in ethanol. When heated, it loses water and above 800°C decomposes into nickel oxide and SO3. Its density is 2.03 g/cm.  

The chloro and bromo compounds are prepared in the same way as the analogous manganese and cobalt compounds, and again the solutions must be evaporated to obtain reasonable yields. 

After an intravenous injection in LD50 dosage of nickel carbonyl, i.e. 22 mg Ni/kg of body weight, to Sprague-Dawley rats, the most pronounced alterations occurred in the membranous pneumocytes 

Ozone (0.5 ppm, 2-6 h) first induced a mild swelling in the attenuated peripheral cytoplasm of type 1 rat pneumocytes (Stephens et al. 1974). This process continued to increase in severity until it was quite pronounced. Mitochondria, both in the attenuated portions of the cell as well as those around the nucleus, became progressively swollen until they were scarcely recognisable. This was followed either by a sloughing away of the entire cell from the basement lamina or by rupture of the plasma membrane and disintegration of the cell, leaving the basement lamina devoid of a epithelial covering. 

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AH nickel compounds are considered as suspected carcinogens and are Hsted in the EPA and TSCA s toxic substances inventory. LD q (mice iv) for... 

Thoria-dispersed nickel products are obtained by precipitating basic nickel compounds, whereby thoria particles of ca 100 nm are coated with layers of nickel to the extent that the product has a 2% thoria dispersion. 

Nickel carbonate is used in the manufacture of catalysts, in the preparation of colored glass (qv), in the manufacture of certain nickel pigments, and as a neutralizing compound in nickel electroplating solutions. It also is used in the preparation of many specialty nickel compounds. 

Nickel acetate tetrahydrate [6018-89-9] Ni(C2H202) 4H2O, is a green powder which has an acetic acid odor, density 1.74 g/cm. When heated, it loses its water of crystallization and then decomposes to form nickel oxide. Nickel acetate is used as a catalyst intermediate, as an intermediate in the formation of other nickel compounds, as a dye mordant, as a sealer for anodized aluminum, and in nickel electroplating (59). 

Estimated 1994 worldwide usage of nickel compounds exclusive of use in nickel refining is shown in Table 3. Nickel compound prices are also given. 

Table 3. Annual 1994 Worldwide Usage and Prices of Nickel Compounds...

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