Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin: The Chemist Who Discovered Chromium
Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin (born 1763) was a French chemist who discovered the element chromium in 1797 and also discovered beryllium. His work led to bright, lasting pigments such as chrome yellow and, later, to stainless steel. He was also the first person to isolate an amino acid.
How did he discover chromium?
In 1797, Vauquelin was experimenting with Siberian red lead ore. He dissolved the mineral in acid, isolated an unknown oxide from the yellow-green solution and heated it with charcoal to extract the pure metal. He named it chromium, from the ancient Greek chrōma, meaning “colour”, because its compounds were brightly coloured. The pure metal itself is a subdued silver-grey.
Key facts
- Vauquelin was born in 1763 in northwestern France.
- He discovered chromium in 1797 while studying Siberian red lead ore.
- He also discovered beryllium, isolating it from the mineral beryl.
Why does chromium matter?
Chromium oxide gives rubies their deep red colour. In 1804, Vauquelin synthesised a lead chromate pigment later named chrome yellow, which appears most famously in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers. Chromium also made stainless steel possible: when iron is alloyed with 17 per cent or more chromium, a thin, tough film of chromium oxide forms on the surface and the steel resists rust.
Where can I read the full story?
This is a short version of “Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin” from OYLA 12+, Vol. 8, Issue 8. The full article in OYLA 12+ tells Vauquelin’s life as an illustrated story, including why the novelist Balzac mentioned him 61 times in a single novel.
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