The Chemical Element Chromium

What is Chromium?

Chromium is a steely-grey, lustrous metal discovered in 1797 by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin. Although extremely hard, it's also brittle.

On the Mohs scale of hardness, chromium grades 8.5.

Chromium, a metallic chemical element, is often used as an alloy because of its exceptional hardness and resistance to tarnishing.

When alloyed with iron, chromium prevents rust, and when alloyed with steel, it forms stainless steel. Chromium improves steel's resistance to corrosion and discolouration.  

Chromium has a high melting point (1,907°C or 3,465°F), lacks odour and taste and is relatively flexible under certain conditions. It's brittle at room temperature but can become more flexible at higher temperatures.

Chromium is an essential mineral required by the human body, but only in very small amounts. 

The name "chromium" comes from the Greek word 'chrōma,' meaning 'colour,' because all chromium compounds are colourful.

When present in corundum (aluminium oxide), chromium turns the mineral red, creating ruby, one of the original four 'precious' gemstones.

The green colour of emerald comes from trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium within the crystal structure of the mineral beryl.