Nickel carbonate describes a blend of inorganic compounds containing nickel and carbonate. For industrial purposes, basic nickel carbonate is the most important with the formula Ni4CO3(OH)6(H2O)4. For use in the laboratory, simpler carbonates such as NiCO3 and its hexahydrate are often used. The basic carbonate is an intermediate in the hydrometallurgical purification of nickel from its ores and is used in electroplating of nickel.