Cadmium
Cadmium (镉, symbol Cd) is chemical element number 48, a Transition Metal in period 5, group 12 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 112.41. Soft, bluish-white toxic metal. Once common in pigments and batteries, now restricted.
Properties
| Atomic number | 48 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Cd |
| Atomic mass | 112.41 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 5 |
| Group | 12 |
| Electron configuration | [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² |
| Electronegativity | 1.69 |
| Covalent radius | 144 pm |
| Density | 8.69 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 594.22 K |
| Boiling point | 1040 K |
| Discovery | Friedrich Stromeyer, 1817 |
Overview
Soft, bluish-white toxic metal. Once common in pigments and batteries, now restricted. Cadmium (symbol Cd) is chemical element number 48, sitting in period 5, group 12 of the periodic table and classed as a Transition Metal. As a transition metal it commonly shows several oxidation states, forms coloured compounds, and is widely used in catalysts and alloys.
It has the configuration [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s² and an electronegativity near 1.69; its 2 outer-shell electrons drive its bonding. Under standard conditions it exists as a solid; it melts near 594.22 K (321.1 °C), boils near 1040 K (766.9 °C), has a density around 8.69 g/cm³.
It is widely used in Energy / Batteries and Pigments / Glass. It is regarded as a high-hazard element, so handle it with appropriate care. It was first described by Friedrich Stromeyer in 1817. Use the comparison tool to line it up against other elements.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 18 · 2
Main uses
- Energy / Batteries
- Pigments / Glass
Hazard
Compounds containing Cadmium
No compounds in this knowledge base contain Cadmium yet.
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.