PROPERTIES AND USES OF CHROMIUM METAL

bryansmo
bryansmo
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read

Chromium has always been widely used in industries due to its physical and chemical properties. Primarily, the transition metal is used while manufacturing stainless steel. This is because the metal is tough and resistant to corrosion and heat.

Properties of Chromium

Chromium is a metal that’s categorized under group 6 of the periodic table. Apart from being hard and brittle, the metal bears a color similar to grey steel. The solid material is generally extracted from colored compounds such as chromite ore or Ferrous (iron) Chromium oxide.

Recognized to be the twenty second abundant material, the melting point of the Chromium metal is 2180 K while its boiling point is 2944 K. Among the oxidation states like +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, and +6, the ones with +2, +3, and +6 are most commonly found in the earth’s crust. Besides, the stable form is observed when the metal is in its +3 oxidation state.

It’s interesting to know that the metallic element features unique magnetic properties. At room temperature, the solid material attains the state of antiferromagnetism. This refers to the anti-parallel alignments of the adjacent ions. Due to the peculiar orientation, the magnetic power gets cancelled and the material no longer exhibits external magnetism.

Under conditions above 38 degrees Celsius, chromium becomes paramagnetic which is nothing but a state in which the material gets attracted by an external magnetic field. When exposed to atomic Hydrogen, the metal doesn’t become harder than usual. But, when it comes in contact with nitrogen, the material becomes brittle and loses softness.

Whenever Chromium comes in contact with oxygen, the chemical reaction causes a thin oxide layer. This serves to be a protection and thereby prevents the material from getting corroded easily. It is because of this fact the metal becomes corrosion resistant.

Applications of Chromium

Chromium Metal Lumps

Manufacture of Stainless Steel

Due to its corrosion resistant property, Chromium is mainly used in the metallurgical industry. Besides its use in manufacture of stainless steel, the material is also used in metal alloys. It is used in the production of nichrome which is capable to withstand high temperatures.

Surface Coating

Coating metals across the surface is yet another application you can think with Chromium. Usually, with the help of the electroplating technique, the metal gets deposited over another solid compound. This offers an added advantage of wear resistance quality. Moreover, the coating process also involves the deposit of chromate ions on metals like Zinc, Cadium, Silver, Magnesium and Aluminum.

Leather Tanning & wood preservation

Compounds of Chromium (IV) are toxic in nature. This is the main reason why they are used for protecting wood against decay due to insects, fungi and termites. Moreover, Chrome Alum and Chromium Potassium Sulphate is used while animal skin is getting converted to leather.

Manufacture of artificial rubies

Due to Chromium metal, emeralds attain the green shade. While rubies (Aluminum oxide crystals or Corundum) shine naturally with a red tint, artificial ones are manufactured by mixing Chromium (III) with corundum crystals.

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