Periodic Table

Cadmium

Transition Metal

Quick Facts about Cadmium

Ag
  • solid- state of matter at room temperature
  • Stable- has at least one stable isotope
  • +2- common oxidation states in compounds
  • HEX- crystal structure, atomic arrangement in solid form
In

Cadmium (Cd) is element 48 on the periodic table. Atomic mass of Cd: 112.4100 u. Cd is in period 5, group 12. Melting point of Cd: 594.22 K.Density of Cd: 8.65 g/cm³.

Why Cadmium Matters

Cadmium in everyday life and industry

In Your Home

  • Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) rechargeable batteries once dominated the market
  • Artist pigments like cadmium yellow and cadmium red are prized for vibrancy

Industry Uses

NuclearNuclear reactor control rods use cadmium to absorb neutrons
MetallurgyProtective cadmium plating prevents steel corrosion in marine environments

In Your Body

✗ Not essential

Itai-itai disease in Japan was caused by cadmium contamination Cadmium replaces zinc in the body, disrupting enzyme function The biological half-life in humans is 10-30 years

Safety: Cadmium is highly toxic to humans and accumulates in the body Smoking significantly increases cadmium exposure

Discovery of Cadmium

Discovered by Fredrich Stromeyer in Germany, 1817

Name origin: Greek: kadmeia (ancient name for calamine (zinc oxide)).

History & Events

1817
Named from Latin 'cadmia' and Greek 'kadmeia' for calamine ore
1817
Discovered in 1817 by Friedrich Stromeyer as an impurity in zinc carbonate
1817
Was widely used in plastics until environmental concerns emerged
2011
The EU has restricted cadmium use since 2011

About Cadmium

Soft bluish metal belonging to group 12 of the periodic table. Extremely toxic even in low concentrations. Chemically similar to zinc, but lends itself to more complex compounds. Discovered in 1817 by F. Stromeyer.

Atomic Properties of Cd

Atomic Number of Cd
48
Atomic Mass of Cd
112.4100 u
Electron Configuration
[Kr] 4d10 5s2
Electronegativity
1.69
Block
d-block
Group
12
Period
5

Physical Properties of Cd

Phase (STP)
solid
Melting Point of Cd
594.22 K
Boiling Point of Cd
1040.00 K
Density of Cd
8.6500 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Heat of Fusion
6.11 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization
59.10 kJ/mol
Specific Heat
0.23 J/g·K
Molar Heat Capacity
26.02 J/mol·K
Thermal Conductivity
96.90 W/m·K

Atomic Radii

Calculated
155 pm
Covalent
136 pm
Van der Waals
218 pm
Metallic
138 pm

Common Misconceptions

Wrong:Cadmium yellow paint is dangerous to use.
Correct:The hazard is mainly during pigment manufacturing; once in dried paint, cadmium sulfide is quite stable and safe to handle.
Wrong:NiCd batteries are banned everywhere.
Correct:While restricted in many consumer applications, NiCd batteries are still used in aviation, emergency lighting, and power tools.
Wrong:Cadmium plating has been completely replaced.
Correct:Despite environmental concerns, cadmium plating is still used in aerospace and military applications due to its superior corrosion resistance.

Isotopes of Cadmium

Cadmium has 8 naturally occurring isotopes.

IsotopeAtomic Mass (u)AbundanceHalf-LifeDecay Mode
10648Cd (Cd-106)Cadmium-106 isotope105.90645991.250%
10848Cd (Cd-108)Cadmium-108 isotope107.90418340.8900%
11048Cd (Cd-110)Cadmium-110 isotope109.903006612.49%
11148Cd (Cd-111)Cadmium-111 isotope110.904182912.80%
11248Cd (Cd-112)Cadmium-112 isotope111.902762924.13%
11348Cd (Cd-113)Cadmium-113 isotope112.904408112.22%
11448Cd (Cd-114)Cadmium-114 isotope113.903365128.73%
11648Cd (Cd-116)Cadmium-116 isotope115.90476317.490%

Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)

Isotope Applications

Isotopes of Cadmium have important real-world applications in science and industry.

Industrial Applications

109Cd is used in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis as a calibration source for detecting lead in paint and measuring coating thickness. Its 462-day half-life makes it practical for portable analyzers.

113Cd has a very high neutron capture cross-section and is used in nuclear reactor control rods to absorb excess neutrons.

Abundance

Earth's Crust
150.00 μg/kg
Seawater
1.10×10-4 mg/L

Uses

Used in nickel-cadmium batteries. Also in electroplating steel and in the manufacture of berings. Its compounds are found in paint pigments and a wide variety of intense colors. Boiling cadmium gives off a weird, yellow-colored vapor that is poisonous.

Sources

Obtained as a by product of zinc refining.

Geochemistry

Goldschmidt
chalcophile

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