Nickel gives glass a greenish color. Nickel plating is often used to provide a protective coating for other
metals, and finely divided nickel is a catalyst for hydrogenating vegetable oils. It is also used in ceramics,
in the manufacture of Alnico magnets, and in the Edison(R) storage battery.
Isotopes
The sulfate and the oxides are important compounds. Natural nickel is a mixture of five stable isotopes;
nine other unstable isotopes are known.
Handling
Exposure to nickel metal and soluble compounds (as Ni) should not exceed 0.05 mg/cm 3 (8-hour
time-weighted average - 40-hour work week). Nickel sulfide fume and dust is recognized as being
potentially carcinogenic.
Sources: CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics and the American Chemical Society.
Last Updated: 12/19/97, CST Information Services Team
Nickel