Nickel

=**Nickel(Ni)**=

**Atomic #: 28 Atomic Mass: 58.69**
A respectable position in the composition of copper-nickel tubing used in desalination plants.
 * Objective**

Baron Axel Frederik Cronstedt discovered me in 1751 in a mineral called niccolite. He had expected to extract copper from this mineral but got none at all. Instead, he obtained me, a silvery-white, hard, malleable, and ductile metal. He named me nickel after the mineral from which I was extracted. Minerals that contained me were of value for coloring glass green. The mineral used for coloring glass was called kupfernickel (false copper). I am a fairly good conductor of heat and electricity.
 * Background**

Humans use me for many different applications. The most common use is as an ingredient of steal and other common metal products as jewelry. Throughout my career I have been mainly used in the preparation of alloys. My alloys are characterized by strength, ductility, and resistance to corrosion and heat. About 65 % my family that is found in Western World is used to make stainless steel, which is typically iron with around 18% chromium and 8% nickel. 12 % of my family consumed goes into super alloys. The remaining 23% of consumption is divided between alloy steels, rechargeable batteries, catalysts and other chemicals, coinage, foundry products, and plating. I am very easy to work with and can be drawn into wire. I resist corrosion even at high temperatures and for this reason I am often used in gas turbines and rocket engines. I occur in the environment only at very low levels. Foods naturally contain small amounts of me. Chocolate and fats are known to contain severely high quantities. I can also be found in detergents. I am essential in small amounts, but excessive intake of me is a danger to human health. Certain compounds of myself have been listed by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) as carcinogenic.
 * Honors and Awards**

I have much experience holding positions in the composition of monel. Monel is an alloy of myself and copper, which is hard and can resist corrosion by seawater. Because of this trait it is used in desalination plants for converting seawater into fresh water. My position in the alloy has assisted in completing the heating and evaporating process for the seawater and to obtain distillate water that can be used in the steam generation plant and as drinking water. . Arsenic: Nickel is a great partner when combining with me to form niccolite, an ore mineral. Chromium: Even though only 8% of Nickel is found in the composition of stainless steel, he is an extremely important aspect of our group. Iron and I could not make stainless steel without him. Copper: Nickel is the backbone in the composition of monel. Without him the tubing we make would not be able to achieve the task of converting seawater into fresh water and would not be used in desalination plants. He is amazing at what he does and copper nickel tubing would not function properly without him.
 * Experience and Skills**
 * References**

http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/ni.htm http://www.webelements.com/nickel/history.html http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/28.html
 * Citations**

Shana