Nickel

Nickel (Ni) is a lustrous, silvery-white metal with an atomic number of 28 and an atomic weight of 58.6934 u. It's one of the transition metals and is hard and ductile. Nickel has a melting point of 1455°C (2651°F), a boiling point of 2913°C (5275°F), and a density of 8.90 g/cm³. It is ferromagnetic at room temperature and has a face-centered cubic crystal structure.

In terms of electronic applications, nickel is highly valued for its corrosion resistance, which makes it an ideal material for plating electronic components, providing long-lasting protection and enhancing conductivity. Nickel-based batteries, such as nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, are well-known for their use in a wide range of consumer electronics. These rechargeable batteries offer a balance between cost and performance, being used in everything from power tools to medical equipment.

On a more advanced technological front, nickel is a key component in the manufacture of various electronic devices due to its ability to easily alloy with other metals. Nickel alloys are used to produce resistors and thermocouples because of their stability and resistance to high temperatures.

Furthermore, nickel is also used in the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) industry for its excellent electromechanical properties, which are essential for the production of tiny devices like sensors and actuators that require precision and reliability.