What kind of crystalline structure does nickel have?

Nickel has a face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure. This means that the atoms are arranged at each of the corners of a cube, as well as at the centers of each face of the cube. The FCC structure is known for its high packing efficiency and strength, which contributes to the excellent ductility and toughness of nickel.

In its FCC form, nickel can accommodate a relatively high number of other elements in solid solution, which is beneficial when considering its alloying properties. Many of nickel's applications, including its use in various alloys and coatings, take advantage of its FCC structure because it provides favorable mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

Understanding that the other options represent different types of crystalline structures helps provide context. Body-centered cubic (BCC) is characteristic of metals like iron at certain temperatures, hexagonal close-packed (HCP) structures are commonly seen in metals such as titanium and zinc, while the term cubic alone without specification doesn’t accurately describe the arrangement of atoms and could refer to various cubic structures. The specificity of the FCC designation is what confirms the correct answer in this scenario.