Pure ZnS and 3 mol% of Ni doped ZnS nano powders are prepared by chemical co-precipitation method. Properties of ZnS: Ni2+ nanoparticles are studied by X-ray diffraction Spectra (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Photoluminescence (PL), Absorption Spectra, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). From XRD data, it conform the structure of ZnS, and particle size of pure and Ni doped ZnS data indicates the incorporation of Ni2+ in ZnS nanocrystal lattice. Raman spectra for pure and Ni doped samples exhibited vibrational modes confirm the structure of ZnS. Photoluminescence spectra reveal that the emission peaks are in UV and visible regions; this is confirming the absorption spectra. SEM micrographs show spherical morphology, and chemical compositions of samples are in stoichiometric proportions. TEM micro graphs show the spherical surface morphology and average particle size for pure and Ni2+ doped nanoparticles are in the range of 2–3 nm, this is good agreement with XRD results. M–H curves from VSM show room temperature ferromagnetism.