Chromium

From Lunarpedia
Revision as of 20:10, 28 July 2013 by Farred (talk | contribs) (rewording)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to: navigation, search
Chromium
Cr
In situ availability: abundant
Necessity: useful
Atomic number: 24
Atomic mass: 51.9961
group: 6
period: 4
normal phase: Solid
series: Transition Metals
density: 7.15 g/cm3
melting point: 2180K,
1907°C,
3465°F
boiling point: 2944K,
2671°C,
4840°F
N/AN/AN/A
V ← Cr → Mn
NbMoTc
Atomic radius (pm): 140
Bohr radius (pm): 166
Covalent radius (pm): 127
Van der Waals radius (pm):
ionic radius (pm): (+3) 62
1st ion potential (eV): 6.77
Electron Configuration
1s2
2s2 2p6
3s2 3p6 3d5
4s1
Electrons Per Shell
2, 8, 13, 1
Electronegativity: 1.66
Electron Affinity: 0.67
Oxidation states: 6, 3, 2
Magnetism: Antiferromagnetic
w/Spin Density Wave
Crystal structure: Body centered cubic

Chromium is a Transition Metal in group 6. It has a Body centered cubic crystalline structure. This element has 4 stable isotopes: 50, 52, 53, and 54.

"Chromium use in iron, steel, and nonferrous alloys enhances hardenability and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. The use of chromium to produce stainless steel and nonferrous alloys are two of its more important applications. Other applications are in alloy steel, plating of metals, pigments, leather processing, catalysts, surface treatments, and refractories." - USGS Chromium Statistics and Information[1]

Chromium on Luna would find many uses, such as the creation of corrosion resistant alloys for industrial processes and the strengthening of various alloys. Due to its high melting point, chromium is also a useful component in the construction of electric resistance heating elements[2].

The most important and abundant terrestrial ore of chromium is chromite. Geologic surveys of the moon have located vast deposits of chromite on the Sinus Aestuum, covering an area thousands of square kilometers in size[3]. It is believed that these deposits are located all across the moon, but are buried in deeper layers, and that the deposits on the Sinus Aestuum are the result of a meteorite impact blasting away the overburden.

Chromite could be reduced to an Iron-Chromium alloy using the FFC Cambridge Process, which could then be refined to pure Chromium, or could be used directly for production of stainless steel or other iron alloys.


References