Which metal, discovered in 1751, takes its English name from part of the German term "Kupfernickel", often translated as Devils Copper?

Introduction / Context:
Chemical element names often have interesting historical and linguistic origins. Some are derived from Latin or Greek roots, while others come from miners slang or descriptive phrases. This question focuses on a metal discovered in 1751 whose name is based on part of the German term Kupfernickel, loosely translated as Devils copper. The element that fits this description is nickel.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The metal was discovered around the year 1751.
• Its name comes from the German term Kupfernickel.
• This German term has the sense of Devils copper or false copper used by miners.
• We must choose the correct metal from four options.

Concept / Approach:
In German, Kupfer means copper and Nickel was used in miners slang for a mischievous spirit or demon. Miners gave the name Kupfernickel to a reddish ore that looked like copper ore but did not yield copper when smelted. Later, chemists isolated a new metal from this ore and named it nickel based on this term. This history is specific to nickel and is well documented in chemistry references. Cobalt has a similar story with another German mining word, but the exact phrase Kupfernickel points clearly to nickel.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the clue is the German term Kupfernickel and its translation as Devils copper. Step 2: Recall that miners used the word nickel for a demon or goblin that tricked them with deceptive ores. Step 3: Remember from periodic table history that nickel is the element obtained from such an ore in the mid eighteenth century. Step 4: Compare the options and see that nickel is the only element directly linked to this name. Step 5: Choose nickel as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Chemistry textbooks, dictionaries of element names, and historical sources on the periodic table explain the origin of the word nickel. They describe how Swedish chemist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt isolated nickel from the mineral niccolite or Kupfernickel in 1751. These sources mention that the miners had named the ore Devils copper because it resembled copper ore but did not produce copper. The element was then named nickel using the second part of the term. Cobalt also has a mining related name from the word kobold, but that is a different German term. Such discussions confirm nickel as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Cobalt: Its name comes from the German word kobold, meaning goblin or evil spirit, due to poisonous fumes during smelting, but not from Kupfernickel.

Chromium: Named from the Greek word chroma, meaning colour, due to its colourful compounds, not from German miners slang.

Platinum: The name comes from the Spanish term platina, meaning little silver, again unrelated to Kupfernickel.

Common Pitfalls:
A common confusion arises between cobalt and nickel because both names have some link to German mining folklore involving mischievous spirits. However, the exact German terms and stories differ. Exam questions often exploit this by placing cobalt and nickel together in the options. The way to avoid confusion is to remember specific pairs: Kobold relates to cobalt, and Kupfernickel leads to nickel. Visualising these pairs can help fix the association in your memory.

Final Answer:
The metal whose name is derived from the German term Kupfernickel, meaning Devils copper, is nickel.