Nickel is a fairly common metal, but that makes it relatively easy to take for granted. If you only know about its most popular uses, you may not realise the full extent of its importance in a range of fields.
It can survive extremely high temperatures
On its own, nickel does not melt until 1,455°C, or 2,651°F. Superalloys incorporating nickel remain strong and resilient at 1,000°C, or 1,832°F, making them ideal for turbine blades in aeroplane engines.
It plays a vital role in plant growth
Traditionally considered a toxic metal, it has since been discovered that nickel helps plants produce the enzyme urease, which they use to process and recycle nitrogen.
You can find it at the bottom of the sea
Bacteria that live in hydrothermal vents deep at the bottom of the sea have their own enzymes full of nickel that they use to help create methane gas.
Nickel compounds come in many colours
When nickel is combined with other elements, it does not just change or enhance its properties. It can take on different colours, including yellow nickel bromide, blue nickel sulphate or green nickel chloride.
Nickel plating was discovered in 1837
The kind of electroless nickel plating offered today by professionals such as those at swmf.co.uk/surface-coatings/electroless-nickel-plating/ would not exist if an attempt to make surgical implements had not accidentally resulted in nickel plating 190 years ago.
You may not need to be aware of every obscure fact about nickel, but it is worthwhile to appreciate the many diverse ways in which it is significant.