Page 59 - The Periodic Table Book

24
Cr Chromium

Discovery: 1798
24 24 28 State: Solid
Forms Uses

These large red
crystals contain Transition Metals
chromium and lead. This grater can resist
corrosion because it
contains chromium.
Crocoite Stainless steel kitchenware

Chromite
Chromite is dark grey
to brown in colour.

Laboratory sample This metal stays Ruby This red colour is due
of pure chromium

to the presence of tiny
shiny even when
amounts of chromium
exposed to air
oxide in the crystal.
and water.

The chromium
plating protects this
motorbike from rusting.

Motorcycle

Chromium is named after chroma, the Greek poisonous. Pure chromium doesn’t corrode
word for “colour”. Many minerals of chromium, easily, so it is combined with iron and carbon to
including chromite and crocoite, are brightly produce stainless steel. Chromium also gives
coloured. An artificial form of crocoite, known gemstones, such as rubies, their deep-red
as “chrome yellow”, was once used in paints, but colour. Some motorcycles have chromium-
it was banned when scientists discovered it to be plated bodywork, giving them a shiny finish. 57
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