Nickel carbonate Property

Melting point:

decomposes [CRC10]

Density 

4.390

solubility 

soluble in dilute acid solutions

form 

Solid

color 

Light Green

Water Solubility 

Soluble in dilute acids. Insoluble in cold water.

Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)

pKsp: 6.85

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 0.2 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 10 mg/m3; TWA 0.015 mg/m3

Stability:

Stable. Incompatible with strong acids.

CAS DataBase Reference

3333-67-3(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Nickel carbonate (3333-67-3)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

Xn,N

Risk Statements 

22-40-43-50/53

Safety Statements 

22-36/37-60-61

RIDADR 

UN3077

RTECS 

QR6200000

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

9

PackingGroup 

III

HS Code 

2836991780

Hazardous Substances Data

3333-67-3(Hazardous Substances Data)

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H302Harmful if swallowed

H315Causes skin irritation

H317May cause an allergic skin reaction

H332Harmful if inhaled

H334May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled

H341Suspected of causing genetic defects

H350May cause cancer

H360May damage fertility or the unborn child

H372Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure

H400Very toxic to aquatic life

H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

Precautionary statements

P201Obtain special instructions before use.

P260Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.

P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.

P284Wear respiratory protection.

P405Store locked up.

Nickel carbonate Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

Nickel carbonate is a light green crystalline substance, which is almost insoluble (0.093 g/L) in water (25°C), nonsoluble in hot water, and soluble in acids. Nickel carbonate is available primarily as basic nickel carbonate (NiCO3· 2Ni(OH)2 · 4H2O), which is not soluble in water and soluble in ammonia and dilute acids. In the natural environment, nickel carbonate tetrahydrate can be found as zaratite.

Physical properties

NiCO₃: Light green rhombohedral crystals; decomposes on heating; practically insoluble in water, 93 mg/L at 25°C; dissolves in acids.
2NiCO₃?3Ni(OH)₂?4H₂O: Light green crystals or brown powder; decomposes on heating; insoluble in water; decomposes in hot water; soluble in acids and in ammonium salts solutions.
Zaratite: Emerald greed cubic crystals; density 2.6 g/cm³; insoluble in water; soluble in ammonia and dilute acids.

Uses

Nickel(II) carbonate is used in sulphamate baths, metal phosphating, electroplating and ceramic applications. It acts as a precursor to catalysts and an intermediate in the hydrometallurgical purification of nickel from its ores.

Uses

Nickel carbonate is used to prepare nickel catalysts and several specialty compounds of nickel. It also is used as a neutralizing agent in nickel plating solutions. Other applications are in coloring glass and in the manufacture of ceramic pigments.

Preparation

Anhydrous nickel carbonate is produced as a precipitate when calcium carbonate is heated with a solution of nickel chloride in a sealed tube at 150°C. Alternatively, treating nickel powder with ammonia and carbon dioxide followed by boiling off ammonia yields pure carbonate.
When sodium carbonate is added to a solution of Ni(II) salts, basic nickel carbonate precipitates out in impure form.

Reactions

Nickel carbonate is the starting material for preparing many nickel salts. It reacts with dilute acids evolving carbon dioxide, and upon evaporation of the solution corresponding nickel salts are formed. The nitrate, sulfate and phosphate salts are prepared from carbonate. Similarly, reactions with hydrofluoric, hydrochloric, hydrobromic, or hydriodic acids yield hydrated nickel halides: namely NiF2•4H2O, NiCl2•6H2O, NiBr2•6H2O, and NiI2•6H2O, respectively:
NiCO3 + HCl → NiCl2•6H2O + CO2
NICKEL CARBONATE 611Nickel carbonate decomposes to nickel oxide when strongly ignited:
NiCO3 → NiO + CO2
Nickel carbonate, when dissolved in aqueous thiocyanic acid, yields a yellow brown precipitate of hydrated nickel thiocyanate:
2 NiCO3 + 2HSCN → Ni(SCN)2 + CO2 + H2O
Nickel carbonate forms many double salts, such as, Na2CO3•NiCO3•10H2O with alkali metal carbonates. However, such double carbonates usually are prepared by mixing an alkali metal or ammonium bicarbonate solution with a nickel salt solution, followed by crystallization.

Hazard

Confirmed carcinogen.

Safety Profile

Confirmed human carcinogen. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic vapors of nickel.