Hexaamminenickel chloride

Hexaamminenickel chloride is the chemical compound with the formula [Ni(NH3)6]Cl2. It is the chloride salt of the metal ammine complex [Ni(NH3)6]2+. The cation features six ammonia (called ammines in coordination chemistry) ligands attached to the nickel(II) ion.

Properties and structure
[Ni(NH3)6]2+, like all octahedral nickel(II) complexes, is paramagnetic with two unpaired electrons localized on each Ni center. [Ni(NH3)6]Cl2 is prepared by treating aqueous nickel(II) chloride with ammonia. It is useful as a molecular source of anhydrous nickel(II).

Related compounds
One commercial method for extraction of nickel from its sulfide ores involves the sulfate salt of [Ni(NH3)6]2+. In this process, the partially purified ore is treated with air and ammonia as described with this simplified equation:
 * NiS + 2 O2  +  6 NH3  ->  [Ni(NH3)6]SO4