A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table

57

Transition Metals

57

Chromium is named after chroma, the Greek

word for “colour”. Many minerals of chromium,

including chromite and crocoite, are brightly

coloured. An artificial form of crocoite, known

as “chrome yellow”, was once used in paints, but

it was banned when scientists discovered it to be

poisonous. Pure chromium doesn’t corrode

easily, so it is combined with iron and carbon to

produce stainless steel. Chromium also gives

gemstones, such as rubies, their deep-red

colour. Some motorcycles have chromium-

plated bodywork, giving them a shiny finish.

Chromium

Cr

24

24 24 28

State: Solid

Discovery: 1798

Forms Uses

This red colour is due

to the presence of tiny

amounts of chromium

oxide in the crystal.

The chromium

plating protects this

motorbike from rusting.

Ruby

Chromite Stainless steel kitchenware

This grater can resist

corrosion because it

contains chromium.

These large red

cr ystals contain

chromium and lead.

C

ro

co

it

e

This metal stays

shiny even when

exposed to air

and water.

Chromite is dark grey

to brown in colour.

Mo

torcycle

of pu

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056-057_Vanadium_Chromium.indd 57 02/12/16 6:52 pm