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
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.
Cadmium in everyday life and industry
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
Discovered by Fredrich Stromeyer in Germany, 1817
Name origin: Greek: kadmeia (ancient name for calamine (zinc oxide)).
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.
Cadmium has 8 naturally occurring isotopes.
| Isotope | Atomic Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-Life | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10648Cd (Cd-106)Cadmium-106 isotope | 105.9064599 | 1.250% | — | — |
| 10848Cd (Cd-108)Cadmium-108 isotope | 107.9041834 | 0.8900% | — | — |
| 11048Cd (Cd-110)Cadmium-110 isotope | 109.9030066 | 12.49% | — | — |
| 11148Cd (Cd-111)Cadmium-111 isotope | 110.9041829 | 12.80% | — | — |
| 11248Cd (Cd-112)Cadmium-112 isotope | 111.9027629 | 24.13% | — | — |
| 11348Cd (Cd-113)Cadmium-113 isotope | 112.9044081 | 12.22% | — | — |
| 11448Cd (Cd-114)Cadmium-114 isotope | 113.9033651 | 28.73% | — | — |
| 11648Cd (Cd-116)Cadmium-116 isotope | 115.9047631 | 7.490% | — | — |
Data source: NIH PubChem (aggregated from IUPAC, NIST)
Isotopes of Cadmium have important real-world applications in science and industry.
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.
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.
Obtained as a by product of zinc refining.
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