Affixes

A chromophore (Greek pherein, to bear) is a chemical group responsible for the colours of dyestuffs; the chromosphere is a reddish layer in the atmosphere of a star; chromatin is a readily stained material in the cell nucleus that contains wrapped-up DNA, RNA and proteins; the DNA part of it, the chromosome, was called that because it, too, is easily stained.

The element chromium was named (via French chrome) because of the brilliant colours of its compounds. Chromic compounds contain trivalent chromium and are usually green or violet, while divalent chromous ones are usually blue; chromates contain the group -CrO₄ and are usually yellow; chromite is a brownish-black ore of chromium.