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Chromium

In the late 18th century, French chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin was intrigued by a vibrant red mineral from Siberia. He was captivated by the array of vivid hues it produced in various solutions, from lemon yellow to emerald green and ruby red. Inspired by this chromatic display, Vauquelin named the element “chromium,” derived from the Greek word “chroma” meaning color.

Chromium is evident in both brilliant, long-lasting pigments and natural crystals: the iconic yellow of American school buses, the luster of chrome-plated car bumpers, the dazzling green of emeralds.