Chromium

Chromium Latest News

Decades of improper industrial waste management have contaminated groundwater with toxic hexavalent chromium across parts of three districts of Uttar Pradesh, exposing villagers to unsafe water and serious health risks. 

About Chromium

• It is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, animals, plants, soil, and in volcanic dust and gases.
• There are two forms: trivalent chromium, which is safe for humans, and hexavalent chromium, which is a toxin.
• Properties
  • It is a very hard gray solid with a metallic luster.
  • It does not tarnish in air, when heated it borns and forms the green chromic oxide.
  • Chromium is unstable in oxygen, it immediately produces a thin oxide layer that is impermeable to oxygen and protects the metal below.

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Applications of Chromium

• It is used in iron, steel, and nonferrous alloys to enhance hardenability and resistance to corrosion and oxidation.
• The use of chromium to produce stainless steel and nonferrous alloys are two of its more important applications.
• Other applications are in alloy steel, plating of metals, pigments, leather processing, catalysts, surface treatments, and refractories.

Source: TH