Nickel

Nickel is a chemical element with the symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile. It is commonly used in alloys, plating, and as a catalyst in chemical reactions.

Physical Properties of Nickel:

Symbol: Ni
Atomic Number: 28
Atomic Mass: 58.6934 atomic mass units
Melting Point: 1455°C (2651°F)
Boiling Point: 2730°C (4946°F)
Density: 8.908 grams per cubic centimeter

Uses of Nickel:

Nickel is widely used in various industries due to its versatile properties. Some common uses of nickel include:

Stainless steel production
Alloy manufacturing (e.g., nickel-cadmium batteries, Nichrome)
Plating and coating applications
Catalysts in chemical reactions
Magnetic materials (e.g., in coinage, magnets)

Environmental Impact:

Nickel and its compounds can have both positive and negative effects on the environment. While nickel is an essential nutrient for some plants and microorganisms, it can also be harmful in high concentrations. Nickel compounds can be toxic to aquatic life and may contribute to air pollution when released from industrial processes.

Study Guide Questions:

What is the atomic number of nickel?
What are some common uses of nickel?
What are the physical properties of nickel?
How does nickel impact the environment?

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Second Grade. What is science?

Vocabulary/Answer key

What is science?

The resources above cover the following skills:

LIFE SCIENCE

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Obtain information from literature and other media to illustrate that there are many different kinds of living things and that they exist in different places on land and in water (e.g., woodland, tundra, desert, rainforest, ocean, river).

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Make observations from media to obtain information about Earth’s events that happen over a short period of time (e.g., tornados, volcanic explosions, earthquakes) or over a time period longer than one can observe (e.g., erosion of rocks, melting of glaciers).

Collect and evaluate data to identify water found on Earth and determine whether it is a solid or a liquid (e.g., glaciers as solid forms of water; oceans, lakes, rivers, streams as liquid forms of water).