Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Nickel powder from Nickel Sulphate?

LHcheM - 3-12-2011 at 21:54

I just accidentally poured some KBH4/NaOH solution into a solution of Nickle (II) sulphate, then the green precipitate appeared as expected, but then after a few seconds, the precipitate turned black, with Hydrogen bubbling out from solution.

So is the grey-black powder Nickel metal?

unionised - 4-12-2011 at 03:30

Could be nickel boride which gets a mention here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel(II)_chloride

KrysHalide - 4-12-2011 at 04:31

Definitevly Ni Boride!! That's a method of choice for it's preparation. It decomposes the remaining BH4- into H2...

LHcheM - 4-12-2011 at 05:18

Oh I never thought of that! Nickel Boride! Thanks!!!

A useful reagent for Organic reactions :)