nickel
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CT: Nickel plays an important role in the construction of net-zero emission systems, because it is among the key metal elements in the development and production of electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems. Nickel is currently identified as one of the critical minerals in Australia, America, Europe, India, Japan, and South Korea. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the demand for nickel for use in EVs and battery storage is expected to grow by around 20–25 times by 2040. In 2023, the global nickel production reached around 3.6 million metric tons from mines worldwide. Pyrometallurgical processing is one of the main methods for nickel concentrate processing, which applies to sulfide nickel ore and some primary lateritic ore composites (e.g., saprolite and garnierite). During the smelting process, nickel concentrate is dried and smelted in the furnace, which generates nickel matte for further refinery, along with solid waste. This waste forms by natural cooling or water quenching of melted impurities in the nickel ores, which is commonly named nickel slag.

S: SDir (last access: 26 January 2026)

N: 1. whitish metal element, 1755, the name was coined in 1754 by Swedish mineralogist Axel von Cronstedt (1722-1765) from shortening of Swedish kopparnickel “copper-colored ore” (from which it was first obtained), a half-translation of German Kupfernickel, literally “copper goblin” from Kupfer (see copper) + Nickel “goblin, rascal, fool” (a pet form of masc. proper name Nikolaus.)

  • The earliest known use of the noun nickel is in the mid 1700s. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) earliest evidence for nickel is from 1755, in Gentleman’s Magazine.
  • Jacob Grimm suggests this is from the source of nixie (and compare pumpernickel). Later German sources (Kluge, etc.) connect the German word to St. Nicholas and the customs surrounding his day in Germany (for which see Krampus). Also compare English Old Nick “the devil;” for which see Nick). Yet the earliest uses of the word are only for a fool or a contemptible person, not a supernatural creature. According to OED (2nd ed., 1989), the ore was so called by miners because it looked like copper but yielded none. Compare fool’s gold meaning “iron pyrite.”
  • The meaning “coin made partly of nickel” is from 1857, when the U.S. introduced one-cent coins made of nickel to replace the old bulky copper pennies. The application to the five-cent piece (originally one part nickel, three parts copper) is from 1883; silver half-dimes served for this in the earlier currency.
  • To nickel-and-dime (someone) “make or keep (someone) poor by accumulation of trifling expenses,” is by from 1964 (nickels and dimes “very small amounts of money” is attested from 1893).

2. A silvery, hard, ductile, ferromagnetic metallic element used in corrosion-resistant alloys, stainless steel, catalysts for hydrogenation, and batteries, and for electroplating. Symbol Ni. Atomic number 28; atomic weight 58.69; melting point 1,455°C; boiling point 2,913°C; specific gravity 8.902; valence 0, 1, 2, 3.

3. Nickel, m.p. 1455 °C (2650 °F), is a metallic element of moderate chemical reactivity; it is particularly resistant to corrosion, one of its major uses being as electroplated protective coatings. ((…)) The chief uses of nickel are as an alloying metal in stainless steel, magnets, and resistance alloys; in cladding and other protective coating; in special types of batteries; and in powder form as a hydrogenation catalyst.

4. Chemistry: nickel (noun).

  • Symbol: Ni.
  • CAS number: 7440-02-0.
  • Hard; malleable; ductile; silvery-white metallic element of group VIII of the periodic system; … Symbol, Ni; valences 0, 1, 2 and 3; isometric; atomic number, 28; atomic weight 58.71; and specific gravity, 8.25 (at 20°C … Used in stainless steel and in other corrosion resistant alloys; in nickel steel for armor plate … in magnets … and as a catalyst.
  • nickel: term adopted by Environment Canada; used in the list of pollutants measured in the National Air Pollution Surveillance Network (NAPS).

5. Nickel and Cobalt Mining: nickeliferous (adjective), nickel ore-bearing (adjective), nickel (adjective).

  • Containing nickel.

6. Phraseology:

– Phraseologisms in the fields of Chemistry and Nickel and Cobalt Mining, respectively:

  • Chemistry: Nickel dust; carbonyl nickel powder. Italian, metal, Raney nickel.
  • Nickeliferous ore.

– Interesting expressions in Spanish and French:

In Spanish the informal expression ha quedado niquelado means it’s a job well done; it’s perfect result after an effort.

In the French language, it is rare to find words featuring a -ck spelling, as this sound is usually represented by a -qu ending. For this reason, some people might misspell nickel as niquel. It is important to note that this adjective is also invariable, meaning that it does not change endings to agree with nouns. You will never see nickele or nickels.

The French expression C’est nickel ! is scattered across informal French conversations to imply something is perfect, amazing, spotless or squeaky clean. Some English speakers may connect nickel to the reference of a metal coin or small amount of money. While this definition does exist in France, it is more commonly used as a slang adjective to show approval and imply something is excellent, awesome or perfect. It can also refer to something that is in good condition, as if to say it is spick and span.

– Collocations with “nickel”:

  • Adjective: active, bright, brittle, catalytic, dull, high-grade, low-grade, malleable, polished, pure, refined, shiny.
  • nickel + noun: acetate, allergy, alloys, -alumel, anodes, belt, bloom, -cadmium battery, carbonate, chloride, compounds, -copper, hydroxide, metal, oxide, plate, silver, steel, sulfate.
  • Verb + nickel: alloy, coat, plate, deposit, extract, get, mine, refine, smelt.
  • Prepositions: from, in, of, with.

7. Cultural Interrelation: We can mention a TV series and a magazine, respectively.

  • The Nickel (2019) by Jonathan Marshall Thompson.
  • Nickel Magazine, the official publication of the Nickel Institute. First launched in 1985, it focuses on the diverse applications, innovations, and sustainability of nickel.

S: Etymonline (last access: 26 January 2026); OED (last access: 29 January 2026). 2. AHD (last access: 26 January 2026). 3. GDT (last access: 29 January 2026). 4 & 5. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 29 January 2026). 6. TERMIUM PLUS (last access: 29 January 2026); MLSN (29 January 2026); TCONNX (29 January 2026); CED (last access: 26 January 2026); MW  (last access: 26 January 2026); FQM (last access 26 January 2026). 7. IMDb (last access: 29 January 2026); NICKI (last access 26 January 2026).

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CR: alternative energy sources, banking energy, battery, chemical energy, copper, electricity, energy, energy source, environment, environmental impact, green energy,  hybrid car, rare earth elements.