Chromium
Atomic Number: 24
Chromium is the first element in group 6 and it is a transition metal. It is a silvery-grey, shiny, hard and brittle metal. Chromium is the main additive to steel as it adds anti-corrosive properties which is helpful. Chromium is used on cars and bicycles because it gives a smooth silver look. It is also used as a catalyst (a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a faster rate). Chromium is found as an ore, which is called chromite. This ore is found in places such as South Africa, India, Kazakhstan and Turkey. The procedure to extract chromium out of this ore is a difficult task. Louis-Nicholas Vauquelin discovered chromium in 1797. This element gets it's name from the Greek word "chroma" meaning color. This name was chosen because the element can form so many different colored compounds.
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