What color is chromium?

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Detailed Solution

Chromium metal looks silvery-gray, but chromium compounds show bright colors: Cr(III) is often green or violet, and Cr(VI) is typically yellow to orange.

Pure chromium is a shiny silver metal. Its salts can be green, purple, yellow, or orange depending on the oxidation state and the anion. This is why chromium is linked with “chrome” finishes in industry and colorful pigments in chemistry.

Oxidation state	Typical color	Common examples	Notes
Cr(0) (metal)	Silvery-gray	Electroplated chrome	Hard, corrosion-resistant coating
Cr(III)	Green / Violet	Chromium(III) oxide (Cr₂O₃) — green; Chrome alum — violet	Generally less toxic; used as pigment
Cr(VI)	Yellow / Orange	Potassium chromate (yellow), dichromate (orange)	Strong oxidizers; toxic; industrial uses