Article
Article
Cadmium
Article By:
Hague, Wilbur Oxy Metal Industries Corporation, Warren, Michigan.
Last reviewed:October 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.101700
A relatively rare chemical element, symbol Cd, atomic number 48, closely related to zinc, with which it is usually associated in nature. It is a silvery-white ductile metal with a faint bluish tinge. It is softer and more malleable than zinc, but slightly harder than tin. It has an atomic weight of 112.40 and a specific gravity of 8.65 at 20°C (68°F). Its melting point of 321°C (610°F) and boiling point of 765°C (1410°F) are lower than those of zinc. There are eight naturally occurring stable isotopes, and eleven artificial unstable radio isotopes have been reported. Cadmium is the middle member of group 12 (zinc, cadmium, and mercury) in the periodic table, and its chemical properties generally are intermediate between zinc and mercury. The cadmium ion is displaced by zinc metal in acidic sulfate solutions. Cadmium is bivalent in all its stable compounds, and its ion is colorless. See also: Periodic table; Tin; Zinc
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