CHRO-MI-UM
What comes to mind when you think about chromium? Chrome! Shiny, reflective car bumpers and hubcaps. You'll also find it in stainless steel and even small amounts are found in your body as one of the trace elements.
Chromium is a useful metal that was discovered in 1797 by Vaquelin. While you think of the highly polished-chrome electroplating, purified chromium metal is grayish color, but still very shiny and lustrous. Another trait that makes it great for electroplating is that it is very resistant to corrosion. It won't rust easily.
Chromium is number twenty-four on the periodic table and located in the same column with molybdenum and tungsten.
Where can you find chromium?
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Plating Have you seen some nice shiny hubcaps lately? I guess you should be thanking chromium for that shine. Chromium is used in plating of all types from hubcaps to bumpers and grills. |
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Trace Element While you aren't shiny, you body needs trace amounts of chromium to survive. Plants use the element in its compounds too. |
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Emeralds Expensive gems such as emeralds have small amounts of chromium in their crystal lattice structure. Many other minerals also have small amounts of the element. |
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Metal Alloys You might have chrome on the outside, but small amounts of chromium are mixed with other metals to form new alloys. Aluminum alloys and stainless steel all use small amounts of the element. |
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Paints and Dyes Isn't chromium a useful little element. You'll also see it in the chemical makeup of many paints and dyes used for fabrics. Many artists and painters are very familiar with chromium oxide. |
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