Nickel(II) hydroxide is the
inorganic compound
An inorganic compound is typically a chemical compound that lacks carbon–hydrogen bondsthat is, a compound that is not an organic compound. The study of inorganic compounds is a subfield of chemistry known as ''inorganic chemistry''.
Inorgan ...
with the formula Ni(OH)
2. It is a lime-green solid that dissolves with decomposition in
ammonia
Ammonia is an inorganic chemical compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the chemical formula, formula . A Binary compounds of hydrogen, stable binary hydride and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinctive pu ...
and
amines
In chemistry, amines (, ) are organic compounds that contain carbon-nitrogen bonds. Amines are formed when one or more hydrogen atoms in ammonia are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups. The nitrogen atom in an amine possesses a lone pair of elec ...
and is attacked by acids. It is electroactive, being converted to the
Ni(III) oxy-hydroxide, leading to widespread applications in
rechargeable batteries
A rechargeable battery, storage battery, or secondary cell (formally a type of energy accumulator), is a type of electrical battery which can be charged, discharged into a load, and recharged many times, as opposed to a disposable or prima ...
.
Properties
Nickel(II) hydroxide has two well-characterized
polymorphs, α and β. The α structure consists of Ni(OH)
2 layers with intercalated anions or water.
The β form adopts a
hexagonal close-packed structure of Ni
2+ and OH
− ions.
[ In the presence of water, the α polymorph typically recrystallizes to the β form.] In addition to the α and β polymorphs, several γ nickel hydroxides have been described, distinguished by crystal structures with much larger inter-sheet distances.[
The mineral form of Ni(OH)2, theophrastite, was first identified in the Vermion region of northern Greece, in 1980. It is found naturally as a translucent emerald-green crystal formed in thin sheets near the boundaries of idocrase or chlorite crystals.] A nickel-magnesium variant of the mineral, had been previously discovered at Hagdale on the island of Unst
Unst (; ) is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is the northernmost of the inhabited British Isles and is the third-largest island in Shetland after Shetland Mainland, Mainland and Yell (island), Yell. It has an area o ...
in Scotland.
Reactions
Nickel(II) hydroxide is frequently used in electrical car batteries.[ Specifically, Ni(OH)2 readily oxidizes to nickel oxyhydroxide, NiOOH, in combination with a reduction reaction, often of a metal hydride (reaction 1 and 2).]
Reaction 1
Reaction 2
Net Reaction (in H2O)
Of the two polymorphs, α-Ni(OH)2 has a higher theoretical capacity and thus is generally considered to be preferable in electrochemical applications. However, it transforms to β-Ni(OH)2 in alkaline solutions, leading to many investigations into the possibility of stabilized α-Ni(OH)2 electrodes for industrial applications.[
]
Synthesis
The synthesis entails treating aqueous solutions of nickel(II) salts with potassium hydroxide. When the same reaction is conducted in the presence of bromine, the product is .
Toxicity
The Ni2+ ion is a carcinogen when inhaled.
See also
* List of minerals named after people
This is a list of minerals named after people. The chemical composition of the mineral follows the name.
A
* Abelsonite: – American physicist Philip Hauge Abelson (1913–2004)
* Abswurmbachite: – German mineralogist Irmgard Abs-Wurmbac ...
* Nickel–cadmium battery
The nickel–cadmium battery (Ni–Cd battery or NiCad battery) is a type of rechargeable battery using nickel oxide hydroxide and metallic cadmium as electrodes. The abbreviation ''Ni–Cd'' is derived from the chemical symbols of nickel (Ni) an ...
* Nickel–hydrogen battery
A nickel–hydrogen battery (NiH2 or Ni–H2) is a rechargeable electrochemical power source based on nickel and hydrogen. It differs from a nickel–metal hydride (NiMH) battery by the use of hydrogen in gaseous form, stored in a pressurized ...
* Nickel–metal hydride battery
A nickel–metal hydride battery (NiMH or Ni–MH) is a type of rechargeable battery. The chemical reaction at the positive electrode is similar to that of the nickel–cadmium cell (NiCd), with both using nickel oxide hydroxide (NiOOH). Ho ...
* Nickel–iron battery
The nickel–iron battery (NiFe battery) is a rechargeable battery having nickel(III) oxide-hydroxide positive plates and iron negative plates, with an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide. The active materials are held in nickel-plated steel tu ...
References
{{Hydroxides
Nickel compounds
Hydroxides