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Raney nickel
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<p>Raney nickel /ˈreɪniː ˈnɪkəl/, also called spongy nickel, is a fine-grained solid composed mostly of <a href="/facts/Nickel/KwMCHYRP">nickel</a> derived from a nickel–<a href="/facts/Aluminium/7wmR8jYE">aluminium</a> alloy. Several grades are known, of which most are gray solids. Some are <a href="/facts/Pyrophoric/1b8Sl2AJ">pyrophoric</a>, but most are used as air-stable slurries. Raney nickel is used as a reagent and as a catalyst in <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a>. It was developed in 1926 by American engineer <a href="/facts/Murray_Raney/ohWotIbb">Murray Raney</a> for the <a href="/facts/Hydrogenation/l7EzNSA7">hydrogenation</a> of vegetable oils. Raney Nickel is a registered trademark of <a href="/facts/W._R._Grace_and_Company/odzNJSLk">W. R. Grace and Company</a>. Other major producers are <a href="/facts/Evonik/P2LDQ8I7">Evonik</a> and <a href="/facts/Johnson_Matthey/19C927vm">Johnson Matthey</a>. </p>