Nickel

Most of this planet’s nickel is inaccessible, locked away in its molten iron core, which is calculated to contain 10% nickel. The nickel that we mine came from outer space, arriving as giant iron/nickel meteorites.

From its initial extraction from meteorites to Ludwig Mond's improved extraction method, found while investigating leaky pipes, nickel has always been in demand. 

Now John Emsley investigates the element of batteries, blades and baked beans and discusses its remarkable alloys.