Why Are Nickel & Copper Often Found Together?

Properties of nickel

• The relevant properties of nickel that make it so easy to find with copper are that its atomic number is 28 and its density is 8.9 grams per cubic centimeter, according tothe website Chemistry Explained. According to the NDT Resource Center, the atomic number is a measurement of the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom. Although each element has its own unique number, the closer the number, the more similar the elements are to each other in atomic structure.

Properties of Copper

• Copper, according to Lenntech Water Treatment, has an atomic number of 29 and a density of 8.9 grams. It is also ductile, meaning it can be stretched into thin wires, and malleable, meaning it can be pounded out and reshaped.

Similarities that Bring Them Together

• Since both copper and nickel have the same density, they would tend to settle at the same level. With similar atomic numbers, it is as probable for copper to form as nickel in similar circumstances with difference in temperature perhaps being the deciding factor. Both ductile and malleable, they wouldn't easily be separated through the normal forces of the earth.