Heather Parish, age 13, of Rock Island, Ill., for her question:

IS THE FIVE CENT PIECE MADE OF NICKEL?

Nickel is a metallic element that was not recognized until 1751 when it was isolated from niccolite ore by a Swedish chemist named Baron Axel Cronstedt. The five cent coin called a nickel is made of a metal alloy that contains 25 percent nickel and 75 percent copper.

Only very small amounts of pure nickel are found in nature. Most nickel comes from the ore niccolite or from either pyrrhotite or garnierite. Nickel is taken from the ores by smelting and refining.

The best use of nickel is as an additive to other metals to form tough alloys that do not rust or tarnish easily. Nickel steel, containing 2 to 4 percent nickel, is used in gears, drive shafts and other auto parts. A mixture of nickel, chromium, iron and manganese is used in the heating wires of electric irons, toasters and other appliances.

In recent years, chrome plating has been used more than nickel plating.