Chromium (Cr)
Chromium is a hard, shiny metal known for its use in stainless steel and chrome plating.
Properties of Chromium
- Atomic number
- 24
- Category
- Transition Metal
- Atomic mass
- 51.996 u
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d⁵ 4s¹
- Melting point
- 2180 K (1906.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 2944 K (2670.85 °C)
- Density
- 7.15 g/cm³
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.66
- Appearance
- Silvery, lustrous metal
- Discovered by
- Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1797)
Facts about Chromium
- Chromium puts the "chrome" in shiny chrome bumpers and faucets!
- Rubies are red because of tiny amounts of chromium!
- Chromium's name comes from the Greek word for "color" because its compounds are so colorful!
- Stainless steel contains chromium, which is what keeps it from rusting!