Chromium(III) acetate, commonly known as basic chromium acetate, describes a family of salts where the cation has the formula [Cr<sub>3</sub>O(O<sub>2</sub>CCH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>6</sub>(OH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]+. The trichromium cation is encountered with a variety of anions, such as chloride and nitrate. Data in the table above are for the chloride hexahydrate, [Cr<sub>3</sub>O(O<sub>2</sub>CCH<sub>3</sub>)<sub>6</sub>(OH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>3</sub>]Cl(H2O)6.
Salts of basic chromium acetate has long attracted interest because of its distinctive structure, which features octahedral Cr(III) centers, a triply bridging oxo ligand, six acetate ligands, and three aquo ligands. The same structure is shared with basic iron acetate and basic manganese acetate.[1] Little evidence exists for a simple chromium(III) acetate, i.e. lacking the oxo ligand.[2] Chromium(III) acetate is a blue/grey-green powder, which is soluble in water. It is still[1] prepared according to the original procedure from 1909.[3]