Chromium in Our Lives

Chromium plating on a car bumper

Stainless steel (chromium) utensils

Chromium is used in many ways in our life. One common use is, it is used to harden steel, and make stainless steel. And our utensils and counters are made of stainless steel. It is also used for plating, which is covering other metals for protection and to create a shiny surface. Chromium has important roles in ours bodies as well. It helps our abilities to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, and it helps insulin create energy from sugar, which then helps cholesterol and building muscle. Hexavalent chromium is used in pigments, dyes, plastics, photos, and even fireworks! And as said before, it gives emeralds their green color, and rubies their red color, so sometimes chromium is used in glass to create the emerald-green color. Even though you may not realize it, but chromium is used quite a bit in our daily lives.

Chromium adds the green and red colors to emeralds and rubies