nickel (Ni) [Ger, Kupfernickel, copper demon] , a silver-white metallic element. Its atomic number is 28; its atomic mass is 58.71. Many people are allergic to nickel. Nickel causes more cases of allergic contact dermatitis than all other metals combined. Many cases occur from exposure to jewelry, coins, buckles, and snaps and from continued use of “carbonless” business forms. Nickel carbonyl, an extremely toxic volatile liquid, may produce serious lung damage if inhaled. Nickel is now a suspected carcinogen.
