Chromium

Properties
Atomic symbol |  Cr
Atomic number |  24
Classification |  Transition metal
Atomic mass |  52.0 amu
Other Information
Date of discovery |  1797
Name of discoverer |  Louis Vauquelin
Name origin |  From the Greek word chrôma (color)
Uses |  Stainless steel
Obtained from |  Chromite

Chromium (Cr) is a chemical element found at number 24 on the periodic table. It is a hard, lustrous gray transition metal used in plating processes and the production of stainless steel.

Chromium is generally found in nature in the mineral chromite (FeO - Cr2O3), but can also be found in crocoite (PbCrO4). It is also an essential mineral for life; a deficiency will lead to a reduction in glucose tolerance, as several chromium (III) compounds have been found to enhance the effectiveness of insulin. However, some chromates are hazardous to one's health when ingested/inhaled.

## Contents

* 1 Uses
* 1.1 Commercial
* 1.2 Medical
* 2 References

## Uses[edit]

### Commercial[edit]

Chromium is used in a number of products, including cassette tapes, metal polish (green rouge), colored pigments and dyes, jet engines, and gas turbines. Silverware is sometimes also coated with chromium, since it is resistant to corrosion Perhaps most importantly, stainless steel is at least ten percent chromium. Stainless steel is used in many different products, including cutlery, stoves, gutters, roofing, cars, and much more.

### Medical[edit]

Along with vanadium, chromium is one of the minerals which is believed to help control blood sugar. It is sometimes used for diabetes in place of animal insulin injections.[1] However, there has been no official study to discover how much vanadium is required by the human body, so many conventional doctors avoid suggesting this supplementation.[2] Chromium picolinate or chromium oxide are usually used for supplementation—the former being considered more effective.

## References[edit]

* Answers.com
* OSHA.gov regulation on hexavalent chromium

1. ↑ http://www.whale.to/a/diabetes_shame.html
2. ↑ http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vanadium

Periodic Table of the Elements

1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  | 7  | 8  | 9  | 10  | 11  | 12  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 16  | 17  | 18

1.008

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

4.003

6.939

9.0122

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

10.811

12.011

14.007

15.999

18.998

10.183

22.99

24.312

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

26.982

28.086

30.974

32.064

35.453

39.948

39.102

40.08

44.956

47.9

50.942

51.996

54.938

55.847

58.933

58.71

63.546

65.37

69.72

72.59

74.922

78.96

79.904

83.8

85.47

87.62

88.905

91.22

92.906

95.94

[97]

101.07

102.91

106.4

107.87

112.4

114.82

118.69

121.75

127.6

126.9

131.3

132.91

137.34

57*

138.91

178.49

180.95

183.85

186.2

190.2

192.2

195.09

196.97

200.59

204.37

207.19

208.98

210

210

222

215

226.03

89**

227.03

104

[261]

105

[262]

106

[266]

107

[264]

108

[265]

109

[268]

110

[271]

111

[272]

112

[277]

113

[284]

114

[289]

115

[288]

116

[292]

117

[293]

118

[294]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
*Lanthanides  |

140.12

140.91

144.24

145

150.35

151.96

157.25

158.92

162.5

164.93

167.26

168.93

173.04

174.97

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
**Actinides  |

232.04

231

238.03

237.05

239.05

241.06

244.06

249.08

252.08

252.08

100

257.1

101

258.1

102

259.1

103

262.11

|  |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |