Strontium chromate
A yellow pigment and corrosion inhibitor made from strontium and chromium compounds
No single value: Strontium chromate is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, yellow.
Strontium chromate is a yellow inorganic compound with the formula SrCrO4, used as a pigment and corrosion inhibitor. It is found in paints, coatings for metals, and pyrotechnics, but is toxic and classified as a proven human carcinogen due to its chromium content.
- Used as a yellow pigment called strontium yellow
- Prevents corrosion on metals in aircraft and industry
- Toxic and classified as a proven human carcinogen
- Made from strontium and chromium compounds
- Also used in pyrotechnics and colouring plastics
What colour is Strontium chromate?
Strontium chromate is a bright yellow chemical compound, mainly used as a pigment and corrosion inhibitor. It stands out for its strong, clear yellow colour, which is sometimes called strontium yellow in painting. Its main feature is its ability to protect metals from rust, especially in harsh environments like aircraft manufacturing.
Where does Strontium chromate come from?
The name 'strontium chromate' comes from its chemical makeup: it contains strontium and chromate ions. It does not occur naturally and is made by combining strontium and chromium compounds. The pigment form, strontium yellow, is used in art and industry for its colour and protective qualities.
How is Strontium chromate made?
This compound is made by reacting strontium chloride with sodium chromate, or by using strontium carbonate and sodium dichromate. The process produces a yellow powder that can be mixed into paints, coatings, or plastics. All steps are carried out in controlled settings due to its toxicity.
Where Strontium chromate is used
Strontium chromate is used as a pigment in oil painting, where it is known as strontium yellow. It is also added to coatings for aluminium, zinc, magnesium, and their alloys, especially in aircraft. Other uses include pyrotechnics, colouring plastics, and as a corrosion inhibitor in industrial processes.
Yellow around the world
What the yellow family means from country to country.
The yellow disc of the Aboriginal flag is the sun, giver of life. The flag was designed by the Luritja artist Harold Thomas and first flown in Adelaide in 1971.
Sacred and holySource: Australian Aboriginal flagAt the gaye holud, held a day or two before a wedding, relatives rub turmeric paste on the bride and groom. Guests dress in yellow and orange.
Weddings and marriageFestival and celebrationJoySource: Gaye holudOn Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring, young women wear yellow and orange saris, a shade called basanti, with flowers in their hair.
Festival and celebrationNature and renewalJoySource: Pohela FalgunThe Flemish flag is a black lion on yellow, and the Walloon flag a red cockerel on yellow. The language communities are often shown by these colours.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of FlandersThe flag is yellow, the colour of the Sultan. By custom, ordinary people did not wear yellow in the ruler's presence.
Royalty and powerPrideSource: Flag of BruneiThe national football team plays in a yellow shirt with green trim, the canarinho. It was chosen in a newspaper contest after the 1950 World Cup final was lost in white.
Festival and celebrationPrideJoySource: Brazil national football teamShades and relatives of Strontium chromate
Strontium chromate is closely related to other chromate pigments, which may vary in colour and toxicity. It is sometimes confused with other yellow pigments, but its chemical makeup and industrial uses set it apart. The pigment is always synthetic and not found in nature.
Questions people ask about Strontium chromate
What colour is strontium chromate?
Strontium chromate is a bright yellow compound, often used as a pigment called strontium yellow.
Where does the name come from?
The name comes from its chemical components: strontium and chromate ions. It is a synthetic compound.
What is strontium chromate used for?
It is used as a pigment in art, a corrosion inhibitor for metals, in pyrotechnics, and to colour plastics.
Is strontium chromate safe?
No, it is toxic and classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is proven to cause cancer in humans.
Good reading and sources
- Strontium chromate on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Strontium chromate", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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