Nickel is a silvery-white metal found naturally in the earth's crust. The world's 24th most abundant element, nickel is a transition metal, meaning it occupies the middle of the periodic table of elements. This indicates it has chemical properties that enable it to form multiple chemical compounds, some of which are toxic. Pure nickel is hard yet ductile pliable and for this reason it is used as a strengthening component in metal alloys. It is also an excellent conductor of both heat and electricity.
The element was discovered unintentionally in 1751 by Baron Axel Frederick Cronstedt, who extracted it from a mineral called niccolite. Intending to extract copper, the Baron's efforts produced a white substance rather than the reddish substance he expected. He dubbed the new metal “kupfernickel”, a German word that roughly translates to “Devil's copper.”
Nickel is a trace mineral, meaning it is required by your body, but only in very small amount. Nickel was not discovered to have any nutritional benefit in the human body until the 1970s because it is only needed in such small amounts. Nickel also has a very high toxicity, meaning too much of it can have severe side effects. Therefore, supplementation with extra nickel is rarely required, and you are likely to get enough of it in a normal diet.
What are the uses of Nickel?
Nickel has been a favored component of coins because it is bright and takes a fine polish and because it is lighter than copper, silver and other metals commonly used in coin currency. In 1850, Switzerland became the first modern nation to officially employ nickel in its coinage. The U.S. soon followed suit in the 1850s and '60s when it introduced nickel to its penny and five-cent pieces to make them lighter. Though the U.S. five-cent coin only contained 25 percent nickel, it quickly became known as “the nickel." The first pure nickel coin was issued by Switzerland in 1881; Austria and Hungary followed suit in 1893.
Because nickel does not easily oxidize, or rust, the metal was adapted as an electroplating material in the 1850s. Electroplating is a process in which metal ions in a chemical solution are attracted to a solid metal electrode. As the ions bind to the surface of the metal they form a uniform, thin coating. Electroplating a metal surface with nickel can form a layer that protects against corrosion. As the electrochemistry of nickel became better understood, it was adapted for use in batteries. Today nickel and cadmium compounds are used to produce rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries.
By far the largest use of nickel today is in the steel industry, which uses approximately two-thirds of the world's annually produced nickel. The metal has the unusual properties of being hard — strong, able to withstand breaking under high forces — and ductile — able to yield or bend before breaking or cracking. In addition, nickel is chemically similar to iron but with particularly good resistance to oxidation. Because of its similarity to iron, nickel can readily substitute for iron in steel alloys or mixtures. The addition of nickel to steel increases its strength, ductility, its rust resistance and its value.
So-called stainless steels, which contain chromium and between 5 and 25 percent nickel, are used in countless applications. The corrosion resistant properties of this steel make it ideal for use in cutlery, faucets, sinks, outdoor equipment, motorized vehicles and cookwear. High strength structural steels that incorporate nickel are used throughout the automobile, aerospace and construction industries. Virtually any heavy industry that manufactures mechanical devices uses structural or stainless steel at some point in the manufacturing process.
Other non-ferrous alloys include nickel-copper alloys, typically containing about 65 percent nickel, and copper-nickel alloys, which generally contain about 10 percent nickel. Their uses include marine equipment and inorganic acid and alkali handling equipment. Nickel-chromium alloys, containing 40 to 70 percent nickel, are used in corrosive chemical environments and high-temperature applications such as heating elements and jet engine parts and in stainless steel flatware and cooking utensils. Nickel-copper-zinc alloys commonly known as nickel-silver are used for decorative purposes, including jewelry, due to the fine polish they can achieve.
Nickel In Food
Nickel is found naturally in some foods, but in very small amounts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans consume about 170 mcg of nickel each day in food. Foods with the highest nickel concentration include chocolate, soybeans, nuts, and oatmeal. Tap water and cigarette smoke also contains trace amounts of nickel. Handling coins causes small amounts of nickel to be absorbed into your blood stream through your skin.
Health Effects
Small amounts of nickel are found in your DNA and RNA, the chemical makeup of every cell in your body. Nickel plays a role in the circulation of some proteins and can contribute to the production of hormones, lipids, and cell membranes. Nickel is also used by your body to break down glucose for energy. According to the book, “Nutrition for Health, Fitness, and Sport,” small amounts of nickel help your body form enzymes that accelerate chemical reactions in your body, especially the formation of new nucleic acids and DNA.
Toxicity
Too much nickel is considered highly toxic and can have detrimental health effects. The most common side effect of too much nickel is an allergic reaction, according to the Center for Disease Control. Ingesting too much nickel can cause gastrointestinal distress, increased red blood cells, kidney stress, chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and in some cases, lung cancer.
Recommendations
Eating a diet high in foods that contain nickel may increase the risk of developing side effects associated with a high nickel intake. If you have a nickel allergy, avoid foods and jewelry that contains nickel. There is currently no recommended daily intake for nickel, however, according to the National Agricultural Library, the tolerable upper intake level of nickel is 1 mg in adults.
The element was discovered unintentionally in 1751 by Baron Axel Frederick Cronstedt, who extracted it from a mineral called niccolite. Intending to extract copper, the Baron's efforts produced a white substance rather than the reddish substance he expected. He dubbed the new metal “kupfernickel”, a German word that roughly translates to “Devil's copper.”
Nickel is a trace mineral, meaning it is required by your body, but only in very small amount. Nickel was not discovered to have any nutritional benefit in the human body until the 1970s because it is only needed in such small amounts. Nickel also has a very high toxicity, meaning too much of it can have severe side effects. Therefore, supplementation with extra nickel is rarely required, and you are likely to get enough of it in a normal diet.
What are the uses of Nickel?
Nickel has been a favored component of coins because it is bright and takes a fine polish and because it is lighter than copper, silver and other metals commonly used in coin currency. In 1850, Switzerland became the first modern nation to officially employ nickel in its coinage. The U.S. soon followed suit in the 1850s and '60s when it introduced nickel to its penny and five-cent pieces to make them lighter. Though the U.S. five-cent coin only contained 25 percent nickel, it quickly became known as “the nickel." The first pure nickel coin was issued by Switzerland in 1881; Austria and Hungary followed suit in 1893.
Because nickel does not easily oxidize, or rust, the metal was adapted as an electroplating material in the 1850s. Electroplating is a process in which metal ions in a chemical solution are attracted to a solid metal electrode. As the ions bind to the surface of the metal they form a uniform, thin coating. Electroplating a metal surface with nickel can form a layer that protects against corrosion. As the electrochemistry of nickel became better understood, it was adapted for use in batteries. Today nickel and cadmium compounds are used to produce rechargeable nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries.
By far the largest use of nickel today is in the steel industry, which uses approximately two-thirds of the world's annually produced nickel. The metal has the unusual properties of being hard — strong, able to withstand breaking under high forces — and ductile — able to yield or bend before breaking or cracking. In addition, nickel is chemically similar to iron but with particularly good resistance to oxidation. Because of its similarity to iron, nickel can readily substitute for iron in steel alloys or mixtures. The addition of nickel to steel increases its strength, ductility, its rust resistance and its value.
So-called stainless steels, which contain chromium and between 5 and 25 percent nickel, are used in countless applications. The corrosion resistant properties of this steel make it ideal for use in cutlery, faucets, sinks, outdoor equipment, motorized vehicles and cookwear. High strength structural steels that incorporate nickel are used throughout the automobile, aerospace and construction industries. Virtually any heavy industry that manufactures mechanical devices uses structural or stainless steel at some point in the manufacturing process.
Other non-ferrous alloys include nickel-copper alloys, typically containing about 65 percent nickel, and copper-nickel alloys, which generally contain about 10 percent nickel. Their uses include marine equipment and inorganic acid and alkali handling equipment. Nickel-chromium alloys, containing 40 to 70 percent nickel, are used in corrosive chemical environments and high-temperature applications such as heating elements and jet engine parts and in stainless steel flatware and cooking utensils. Nickel-copper-zinc alloys commonly known as nickel-silver are used for decorative purposes, including jewelry, due to the fine polish they can achieve.
Nickel In Food
Nickel is found naturally in some foods, but in very small amounts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Americans consume about 170 mcg of nickel each day in food. Foods with the highest nickel concentration include chocolate, soybeans, nuts, and oatmeal. Tap water and cigarette smoke also contains trace amounts of nickel. Handling coins causes small amounts of nickel to be absorbed into your blood stream through your skin.
Health Effects
Small amounts of nickel are found in your DNA and RNA, the chemical makeup of every cell in your body. Nickel plays a role in the circulation of some proteins and can contribute to the production of hormones, lipids, and cell membranes. Nickel is also used by your body to break down glucose for energy. According to the book, “Nutrition for Health, Fitness, and Sport,” small amounts of nickel help your body form enzymes that accelerate chemical reactions in your body, especially the formation of new nucleic acids and DNA.
Toxicity
Too much nickel is considered highly toxic and can have detrimental health effects. The most common side effect of too much nickel is an allergic reaction, according to the Center for Disease Control. Ingesting too much nickel can cause gastrointestinal distress, increased red blood cells, kidney stress, chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function, and in some cases, lung cancer.
Recommendations
Eating a diet high in foods that contain nickel may increase the risk of developing side effects associated with a high nickel intake. If you have a nickel allergy, avoid foods and jewelry that contains nickel. There is currently no recommended daily intake for nickel, however, according to the National Agricultural Library, the tolerable upper intake level of nickel is 1 mg in adults.
