Question

What is the colour of chromium ?

Answer 1

The question is regarding one of the physical properties of the element and this element is mainly used in the production of steel. Chromium belongs to the transition element group of periodic tables.

Complete step-by-step answer: The given question is completely a factual type of question based on the physical appearance of the chromium element. Before going into the answer for the question, first let us discuss a few facts related to chromium.
Chromium has an atomic number 24 with electronic configuration$\left[ Ar \right]3{{d}^{5}}4{{s}^{1}}$. Chromium has the chemical symbol Cr. The name chromium is derived from the Greek term Chroma which has the meaning colour. It exists in solid phase at room temperature. Chromium is one of the most available elements in Earth's crust but it won't be available in its free state, it is obtained as ore, Chromite ore.
Chromium has four natural isotopes and the most common one is Cr-52.
Chromium is the third hardest element known, carbon being the first one and boron being the second.
Chromium belongs to d-block elements, specifically belonging to the class of elements called transition metals. Chromium is placed in the group ${{6}^{th}}$ and ${{4}^{th}}$ period of the periodic table.
In the pure form of chromium or say in the free elemental state of chromium it is silvery metallic colour or steely-grey in colour and it is lustrous. And it is also a very hard and brittle transition element.
Only in the pure form it has this silvery metallic colour but in combined state chromium compounds are divergent vibrant colored compounds.
Compounds like dichromate, chromates of potassium, sodium, ammonium alums etc. are colored compounds.

Note: Chromium is used in the production of steel, because of which shows anti-corrosive properties. And as the chromium compounds are colored compounds it is also used as pigments, it is also used as coating material in sheets, cars because of their anti-corrosive property and relatively high hardness property. Chromium salts are also used for the preservation of wood because of its toxicity.