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chromium

chromium definition

chro·mium (krō′mē əm)

noun

a grayish-white, crystalline, very hard, metallic chemical element with a high resistance to corrosion: used in chromium electroplating, in alloy steel ( stainless steel), and in alloys containing nickel, copper, manganese, and other metals ( Nichrome): symbol, Cr; at. no. 24

Etymology: ModL < Fr chrome < Gr chrōma (see chroma) + -ium; so named (1797) by N.-L. Vauquelin, Fr chemist, its discoverer, because of its bright-colored compounds

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