nickel 3 sulfide is a moderately water and acid soluble source of nickel that can be used for a wide variety of applications. It is a common ingredient in many compounds that contain nickel, as well as other metals and some nonmetals.
Typical uses include water treatment, and for certain organic solvents. It is also a component of sulfate esters and salts.
Sulfate compounds are formed by substituting one or more hydrogen atoms for a metal cation and an anion. Most metal sulfate compounds are moderately water and acid soluble, making them ideal for many applications.
NiS and sulfide (NiS2) are important in the chemistry of the Earth’s crust, especially during deep tropical weathering. They are found in ophiolites that form as a result of deformation of lithosphere beneath the ocean floor.
They are the primary mineral deposits in the world for nickel. The simplest stoichiometric nickel sulfide is millerite, while heazlewoodite and polydymite are among the most common commercially valuable nickel ores.
Other important ores of nickel are nickel sulfide complexes, such as pentlandite, and nickel-bearing laterites that have been remobilized from other mineral deposits in the Earth’s crust. These can be economic concentrations, although they can also be rare and difficult to mine.
Work Practices:
Exposure to nickel sulfide can cause respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. It can also cause hypersensitivity to nickel and allergic contact dermatitis. Additionally, it may cause a form of gastrointestinal hemorrhage called necrosis. The resulting bleeding can be fatal.