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

Nickel arsenide
Names
Other names
Nickel monoarsenide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ECHA InfoCard 100.043.776 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 248-169-1
UNII
  • InChI=1S/As.Ni
    Key: UIFOTCALDQIDTI-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Ni].[As]
Properties
AsNi
Molar mass 133.6150 g·mol−1
Appearance red solid
Density 7.57 g/cm3
Melting point 968 °C (1,774 °F; 1,241 K)
nearly insoluble
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS08: Health hazardGHS07: Exclamation markGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H317, H350i, H372, H410
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Toxicity

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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 German: kupfer (copper) in the name. The German: Nickel (demon) name was reflecting the damage it did to the health of the workers,[1] in addition to them being unable to extract any copper from this ore.

The acute oral LD50 in rats is about 6000 mg/kg.[2]

Preparation of NiAs

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

Ni(s) + As(s) → NiAs(s)[3]

References

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  1. ^ Sunderman 1989, p. 2.
  2. ^ Reagan 1992, p. 695.
  3. ^ Shriver, D.; Atkins, P. (2009). Shriver and Atkins' Inorganic Chemistry (5th ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman and Company. p. 383. ISBN 978-1-4292-1820-7.

Sources

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