(So named (
Greek chroma, "color") in
1797 by
N.-L. Vauquelin,
French chemist, its discoverer, because of its bright-colored compounds) A grayish-white,
crystalline, very hard,
metallic chemical element with a high resistance to
corrosion. It is used in chromium
electroplating, in
stainless steel, and in
Nichrome.
Symbol: Cr
Atomic number: 24
Atomic weight: 51.9961
Density (at room temperature and pressure): 7.19 g/cc
Melting point: 1,900°C
Boiling point: 2,670°C
Valence: +2, +3, +6
Ground state electron configuration: [Ar]3d54s1