Periodic Table of Elements

Element Chromium - Cr

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Chromium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Chromium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Chromium Menu

Overview of Chromium

Chromium's Name in Other Languages

  • Latin: Chromium
  • Czech: Chrom
  • Croatian: Krom
  • French: Chrome
  • German: Chrom - r
  • Italian: Cromo
  • Norwegian: Krom
  • Portuguese: Crômio
  • Russian: Хром
  • Spanish: Cromo
  • Swedish: Krom

Atomic Structure of Chromium

Chemical Properties of Chromium

Physical Properties of Chromium

Regulatory / Health

  • CAS Number
    • 7440-47-3
  • RTECS: GB4200000
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
    • TWA: 1 mg/m3
    • Notes: The PEL also applies to insoluble chromium salts.
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
    • TWA: 1 mg/m3
    • Notes: The PEL also applies to insoluble chromium salts.
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
  • Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm-3: 0.006-0.11
    • Bone/p.p.m: 0.1-033
    • Liver/p.p.m: 0.02-3.3
    • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.024-0.84
    • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.01-1.2 mg
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 14 mg

Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: Nicholas Louis Vauquelin
  • Discovery Location: Paris France
  • Discovery Year: 1797
  • Name Origin:
    Greek: chrôma (color).
  • Abundance of Chromium:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 100
    • Seawater/p.p.m.:
      • Atlantic Suface: 0.00018
      • Atlantic Deep: 0.00023
      • Pacific Surface: 0.00015
      • Pacific Deep: 0.00025
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 513000
  • Sources of Chromium:
    Does not occur free in nature. Chromite [Fe,Mg(CrO4)] is its most important mineral. Annual world wide production around 20,000 tons. Primary mining sources are Turkey, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Russia and Philippines.
  • Uses of Chromium:
    Used to make stainless steel. Also used in plating for car parts, tools, knives, camouflage paint, stereos, video tapes and lasers. It gives rubies and emeralds their color.
  • Additional Notes:

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References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

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