US Coins
Metal and Alloys

What is the number of nickel atoms in a nickel coin?



User Avatar
Wiki User

According to the U.S. mint the nickels currently in circulation weigh 5.000 grams and contain 25% Ni (the rest is copper).

25% of 5.000g = 1.250 grams of Ni in a nickel coin / molar mass of Ni 58.71 g/mol = 0.02129 moles of Ni times the number of particles for one mole 6.02x10^23 = 1.28x10^22 atoms of Ni in one coin.

All together:

(0.25 x 5.000g) / (58.71 g per mol) x (6.02x10^23 atoms per mol) = 1.28x10^22 atoms Ni per coin.