Who Discovered Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element with the atomic number 24 and chemical symbol Cr. This post will tell you who discovered chromium and then look at a few interesting facts about chromium.
Who discovered chromium?
Chromium was discovered in 1798 by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin. Vanquelin made chromium oxide a year earlier by mixing crocoite ore with hydrochloric acid. However, it took him another year to work out how to isolate chromium metal on its own. He got chromium metal by heating the chromium oxide in a charcoal oven. After this, Vanquelin determined that precious gemstones (such as ruby and emerald) had small amounts of chromium.
Interesting facts about chromium
- Chromium metal is considered non-toxic. Chromium (III) ions are also safe. However, chromium (V) ions are carcinogenic (cancer causing). Chromium salts can also cause allergic reactions.
- Chromium is important for the human body. It is possible to be deficient in chromium, but only a few people have ever been diagnosed as chromium deficient.
- Chromium is a silvery metal.
- Chromium is a transition metal.
- Chromium is odorless, tasteless and easy to mold.
- There are three stable and naturally occurring isotopes of chromium. Nineteen radioisotopes have also been observed or created.
- Chromium is in group 6, period 4 and the d block of the periodic table.
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