Nickel arsenide
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Nickel arsenide is a compound of nickel and arsenic and component of the ore nickeline. It is highly toxicTemplate:Cn and a known carcinogen in humans. Uncontrolled decomposition of nickel arsenide can give rise to further toxic nickel compounds.Template:Cn
Toxicity
Nickel arsenide was one of the first compounds that revealed the toxicity of nickel. The damage to the miners' lungs was documented by Georgius Agricola in the 16th century: "kupfer-nickel" ores in the Schneeberg mines contained red-colored NiAs mineral originally mistaken for the copper ore, thus the Template:Langx (copper) in the name. The Template:Langx (demon) name was reflecting the damage it did to the health of the workers,Template:Sfn in addition to them being unable to extract any copper from this ore.
The acute oral LD50 in rats is about 6000 mg/kg.Template:Sfn
Preparation of NiAs
The main compound within nickeline, nickel arsenide (NiAs), can be prepared by direct combination of the elements:
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