Nickel arsenide explained

Nickel arsenide is a compound of nickel and arsenic and component of the ore nickeline. It is highly toxic and a known carcinogen in humans. Uncontrolled decomposition of nickel arsenide can give rise to further toxic nickel compounds.

Toxicity

Nickel arsenide was one of the first compounds that revealed the toxicity of nickel. The damage to the miners' lungs was documented by Georgius Agricola in the 16th century: "kupfer-nickel" ores in the Schneeberg mines contained red-colored NiAs mineral originally mistaken for the copper ore, thus the de|kupfer (copper) in the name. The de|Nickel (demon) name was reflecting the damage it did to the health of the workers, in addition to them being unable to extract any copper from this ore.

The acute oral LD50 in rats is about 6000 mg/kg.

Preparation of NiAs

The main compound within nickeline, nickel arsenide (NiAs), can be prepared by direct combination of the elements:

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Sources

• The crystal structure of nickel arsenide . Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics . IOP Publishing . 21 . 22 . 1988-08-10 . 0022-3719 . 10.1088/0022-3719/21/22/016 . 4007–4015 . J.G. . Thompson . A.D. . Rae . R.L. . Withers . T.R. . Welberry . A.C. . Willis. 1988JPhC...21.4007T .
• F.W. . Sunderman . A pilgrimage into the archives of nickel toxicology . Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science . 19 . 1 . 0091-7370 . 2644888 . 2024-10-13 . 1989. 1–16 .
• Reagan . E. L. . Acute Oral LD₅₀ Study in Rats with Nickel Arsenide . Journal of the American College of Toxicology . SAGE Publications . 11 . 6 . 1992 . 0730-0913 . 10.3109/10915819209142088 . free . 695.

External links

• Web site: Toxicity classification . . 2015-06-01 . 2024-10-13.

Notes and References

1. Book: Shriver and Atkins' Inorganic Chemistry. Shriver. D.. Atkins. P.. W. H. Freeman and Company. New York. 2009. 383. 978-1-4292-1820-7. 5th.