Physical and Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium nickel, also known as nickel(II) ammonium sulfate, is an inorganic chemical compound with the chemical formula Ni(NH4)2(SO4)2·6H2O. It exists as purple hexagonal crystals or as a purple powder. When heated, it decomposes, releasing ammonia. Like most metal ammonium salts, ammonium nickel is highly soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol and ether. Its aqueous solutions are acidic due to hydrolysis.
The compound consists of nickel cations, ammonium cations, sulfate anions and water molecules. In the solid state, each nickel cation is octahedrally coordinated to six water molecules. The ammonium and sulfate ions are also present as discrete entities between the nickel complex units. The nickel cations can adopt both octahedral and tetrahedral geometries depending on their coordination environment.
Production and Ammonium Nitrate
Ammonium nickel is commercially produced by the reaction of nickel sulfate with ammonium sulfate. Nickel sulfate is first prepared by leaching nickel-containing ores or recycling nickel-rich waste with sulfuric acid. The leachate is purified to extract pure nickel sulfate crystals.
To produce Ammonium Nitrate, aqueous solutions of nickel sulfate and ammonium sulfate are mixed together. Precipitation occurs as the hardly soluble ammonium nickel salt separates out of solution. The product is then collected through filtration, washed with water and dried. Additional recrystallization from water may be needed to obtain purer crystalline form.
Uses in Industry
One of the main uses of ammonium nickel is in metal plating and electrodeposition. It serves as a source of divalent nickel ions which are reduced at the cathode to deposit pure nickel or nickel alloys onto metal substrates. Electroplating with nickel provides corrosion resistance and improves the appearance of items.
Ammonium nickel solutions are commonly used to electroplate metal parts in various industries like automotive, electronics, hardware etc. Industrial applications include plating motor vehicle trim, hardware, appliances, bathroom fixtures and industrial machinery for corrosion protection. It also finds use in decorative and architectural applications to chrome plate artifacts.
Another important use is in ceramics manufacturing as a nepheline syntheses flux. Nepheline is an important ingredient in ceramic glazes that lowers the firing temperature. Ammonium nickel acts as a catalyst during nepheline formation from other raw materials like feldspar at lower temperatures than without a flux. This helps reduce energy costs in the production of ceramic tiles, sanitaryware, tableware and technical ceramics.
Role in Pigments and Printing Inks
Finely ground ammonium nickel possesses interesting coloring properties and finds application as a pigment. Its dilute aqueous solutions appear purple/violet in color due to the presence of nickel ions. Pigments made from ammonium nickel exhibit lovely violet/purple shades and have been used in paints, plastics and ink formulations.
The compound is also utilized as a colorant in printing and security inks. It acts as a component in intaglio and lithographic inks, providing vibrant purple/violet hues. Ammonium nickel-based inks are employed in printing banknotes, identity cards and valuable documents since the complex color patterns are difficult to reproduce, aiding anti-counterfeiting. Such inks require specialized intaglio printing techniques.
Miscelleneous Uses
Other minor applications of ammonium nickel include its use as a mordant in dyeing and calico printing, a catalyst for organic reactions and as an intermediate in the manufacture of other nickel compounds. Its solutions find some use as analytical reagents for qualitative nickel estimations. Ammonium nickel is also employed as a source of nickel ions in buffered nickel electroplating baths used for industrial deposition of alloys.
Ammonium nickel is a commercially significant inorganic compound with diverse industrial applications primarily in electroplating, ceramics production and pigment/printing ink formulation. Its unique physical and chemical properties linked to the nickel ion allow it to serve important technological functions. Future areas of potential growth include its increased utilization in energy technologies and electronic/optical thin film applications.
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