Key Facts about Nickel

June 11, 2025

Recent study has revealed that nickel can be extracted from low-grade ores using hydrogen plasma instead of carbon.

About Nickel:

  • It is a metallic element with a silvery-white, shiny appearance.
  • It is the fifth-most common element on earth and occurs extensively in the earth’s crust and core.
  • Nickel, along with iron, is also a common element in meteorites.
  • It occurs naturally in soil and water. It is also an essential nutrient for plants. 
  • It has outstanding physical and chemical properties, which make it essential in hundreds of thousands of products.
  • Nickel occurs principally as oxides, sulphides and silicates.
  • India has substantial nickel laterite reserves, particularly in Odisha’s Sukinda region.
  • World Distribution: Indonesia (22%), Australia (21%), Brazil (17%), Russia (7%), Cuba (6%) and Philippines (5%) are the major countries having reserves of Nickel.
  • Applications
    • Its biggest use is in alloying - particularly with chromium and other metals to produce stainless and heat-resisting steels.
    • Nickel is an important metal used in several clean energy technologies, especially Electric Vehicles (EVs).
    • It is used in batteries, including rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries used in hybrid vehicles.

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