Nickel foil is a silver-white metal with magnetic and good plasticity. A nearly silvery, hard, ductile, ferromagnetic metal element that is highly polished and resistant to corrosion. Dissolved in nitric acid, it appears green.

Nickel foil is insoluble in water, and forms a dense oxide film on the surface in moist air at room temperature, which can prevent the continuous oxidation of the base metal. It can be dissolved slowly in dilute acid, releasing hydrogen gas to produce green nickel ion Ni2+. Resistance to alkali.

Nickel foil burns in pure oxygen, giving off a dazzling white light. Similarly, nickel foil can be burned in chlorine and fluorine. The oxidant solution, including nitric acid, did not react.