Nickel forms many alloys which are used in hundreds of industries in many ways. It is one of the most useful metals known to man. But in early times, when chemists first tried to work with it, it gave them a great deal of trouble. In fact, the word nickel is derived from the German word for “imp!”

Nickel is found in meteorites, and it is sometimes found in the free state in small quantities. But the greatest supply of nickel is obtained from certain ores, especially one called pyrrhotite, which is a mineral containing iron, copper, and nickel. Canada is the greatest of all nickel-producing countries.

The ore containing nickel is usually heated in a blast furnace to obtain a rich mixture called a matte. This is then reduced to nickel by mixing it with coke and heating it in a blast furnace.

Nickel is silvery, lustrous, hard, and malleable, which means it can be easily worked and shaped. And nickel is one of the most magnetic materials known, unless heated.

We seldom see pure nickel except when it is used as a coating on other metals. This is then called nickel-plate. It protects other metals from rust or tarnish, and gives them a better wearing surface.

Most of the nickel produced is used in alloys, or in a mixture with other metals. For instance, when alloyed with copper, it is used in coins. The U.S. five-cent piece is called a nickel for that reason. When it is alloyed with three parts of copper and one of zinc, nickel forms a bright silvery metal known as German silver or nickel silver. This is used for making tableware and as a base for silver plated ware.

But these uses of nickel are relatively minor. Most nickel goes into the making of nickel steel, an alloy which can withstand repeated strains. It is used in structural work, bridges, railroad rails at curves, rivets, locomotive boilers, automobile gears and axles, and the dipper teeth of steam shovels.