A compound can be separated into the individual elements that it is comprised of and an element can separated as far as its individual atoms. An atom represents the smallest possible part of an element that still retains the properties of that element.
Definition of nickel. 1  1 : a silver-white hard malleable ductile metallic element capable of a high polish and resistant to corrosion that is used chiefly in alloys and as a catalyst â see element table. 2  2a (1) : the U.S. 5-cent piece regularly containing 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper (2) : the Canadian 5-cent pieceb : five cents.
Nickel is the first element in the tenth column of the periodic table. It is classified as a transition metal. Nickel atoms have 28 electrons and 28 protons with 30 neutrons in the most abundant isotope. Characteristics and Properties. Under standard conditions nickel is a silvery-white metal that is fairly hard, but malleable. Nickel is one of the few elements that is magnetic at room temperature. Nickel can be polished to a shine and resists corrosion. It is also a decent conductor of electricity and heat. Where is nickel found on Earth? Nickel is one of the primary elements of the Earth's core which is thought to be made mostly of nickel and iron. It is also found in the Earth's crust where it is about the twenty-second most abundant element.