Nickel sulphate hexahydrate is available as odourless, blue-green crystals. It is stable at room temperature in closed containers under normal storage and handling conditions and incompatible with strong acids and strong oxidising agents. On decomposition, nickel (II) sulphate hydroxylate releases oxides of sulphur, irritating and toxic fumes and gases, and nickel oxide.
Source of nickel in standards.
Nickel sulfate hexahydrate is a source of nickel metal, a common allergen present in various alloys, electroplated metal, earrings, lipstick holders, watches, buttons,
zippers, rings, utensils, tools, instruments, batteries, machinery parts, working solutions of metal cutting fluids, nickel plating for
alloys, coins, pigments, dentures, orthopedic plates, keys, scissors, razors, spectacle frames, kitchenware etc. May produce erythema
multiforme like eruptions.
Nickel sulfate hexahydrate is mainly used in Ni plating, as mordant in dyeing and in printing textiles, as a blackening agent for zinc and brass and in the fabrication of organic nickel salts. It is used as an effective catalyst for gas-phase dehydration of glycerol to acrolein. Nickel sulfate hexahydrate crystal is an efficient ultraviolet filter material. Columns used in biochemistry and molecular biology can be regenerated with nickel sulfate. It is used to prepare nickel carbonate, a precursor to pigments and nickel-based catalysts.
ChEBI: A hydrate that is the hexahydrate of nickel sulfate.
Blue or emerald-green crystalline material. Toxic and carcinogenic. Two known phases. Alpha-form (blue tetragonal) converts to beta-form (green monoclinic) at 127.9°F. Becomes blue and opaque at room temperature. Odorless. Sweet astringent taste. Somewhat efflorescent. Greenish-yellow anhydrous salt is formed at 536°F.
Nickel sulphate is used in the laboratory. Accidental workplace exposures to nickel sulphate hexahydrate by ingestion/inhalation and/or skin absorption cause toxicity and adverse health effects. It causes irritation to the respiratory tract. The symptoms include, but are not limited to, coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath, respiratory distress, lung allergy with asthma-type symptoms, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, capillary damage, myocardial weakness, central nervous system depression, and kidney and liver damage. Workers/persons with pre-existing skin disorders, impaired respiratory or pulmonary function, and history of asthma, allergies, or sensitisation to nickel compounds may be at an increased risk upon exposure to nickel sulphate hexahydrate and nickel compounds. Reports of ACGIH list nickel sulphate hexahydrate as Group A4, meaning not classifiable as a human carcinogen; the NIOSH list it as an occupational carcinogen (listed as Nickel); the NTP lists it as a suspect carcinogen (listed as Nickel); the OSHA classifies it as a possible human carcinogen (listed as Nickel); and the IARC classifies nickel sulphate hexahydrate as Group 2B carcinogen (listed as Nickel), meaning possibly carcinogenic to humans. Reports are available suggesting sufficient evidences in humans for the carcinogenicity of nickel compounds and their combinations encountered in the nickel refining industry.
Nickel sulfate hexahydrate is incompatible with strong acids, sulfur, Ni(NO3)2, wood and other combustibles. At elevated temperature undergoes violent reaction with powdered aluminum or magnesium. When heated to decomposition Nickel sulfate hexahydrate emits very toxic fumes of oxides of sulfur [Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 918].
Flash point data for Nickel sulfate hexahydrate are not available. Nickel sulfate hexahydrate is probably combustible.
Confirmed human
carcinogen. Poison by ingestion,
intravenous, and subcutaneous routes.
Experimental reproductive effects. Human
mutation data reported. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of SOx.
See also NICKEL SULFATE.
