A hard, bright metallic coating made from chromium, used to give objects a shiny, reflective finish. Also refers to chromium itself, a metallic chemical element.
From Greek 'chroma' meaning 'color,' named because chromium compounds produce brilliant colors. First isolated in 1798, chromium became popular for decorative plating in the early 20th century.
The element chromium got its name because its compounds create an amazing rainbow of colors - chrome yellow, chrome green, chrome red - yet pure chromium metal appears silvery. This color-producing property makes chromium essential not just for shiny car bumpers but also for creating vivid paints and dyes.
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