Cd
112.410Cadmium
Kadmiyum
Cadmium is a toxic group 12 metal with atomic number 48. It is known for nickel-cadmium batteries, cadmium pigments, CdTe solar cells, neutron-absorbing control rods and environmental health risks.
48
112.41 g/mol
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s²
2 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 2
1.69
8.65 g/cm³
321.1 °C
766.9 °C
Karl Samuel Leberecht Hermann
Cadmium was discovered in 1817 by Friedrich Strohmeyer in zinc compounds. Its name comes from cadmia, an old name for zinc ore.
Cadmium-106
Natural abundance: About 1.25%. Stable isotope of cadmium.Cadmium-108
Natural abundance: About 0.89%. Stable isotope of cadmium.Cadmium-110
Natural abundance: About 12.5%. Stable isotope of cadmium.Cadmium-111
Natural abundance: About 12.8%. Stable isotope used in NMR studies.Cadmium-112
Natural abundance: About 24.1%. Stable isotope of cadmium.Cadmium-113
Natural abundance: About 12.2%. Half-life: About 8.04 x 10¹⁵ years. Very long-lived radioactive isotope and strong neutron absorber.Cadmium-114
Natural abundance: About 28.7%. The most abundant cadmium isotope.Cadmium-116
Natural abundance: About 7.5%. Long-lived isotope studied in double beta decay research.CdS
Cadmium SulfideYellow pigment, photoconductive material and solar-cell window-layer chemistry.CdSe
Cadmium SelenideRed-orange pigment and quantum-dot semiconductor material.CdTe
Cadmium TellurideThin-film solar cell absorber material.CdCl₂
Cadmium ChlorideResearch reagent and processing chemical in some thin-film solar cell workflows.- Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries, now restricted or replaced in many applications
- Cadmium sulfide and cadmium selenide pigments
- Cadmium telluride thin-film solar cells
- Neutron-absorbing control rods and shielding materials
- Corrosion-resistant coatings in specialized aerospace and marine uses
Cadmium has no essential biological role. It is toxic, accumulates in the body and can damage kidneys and bones; cadmium compounds are important environmental health hazards.
- Cadmium is toxic and environmentally persistent, so many uses are restricted.
- CdTe is one of the most important commercial thin-film solar cell materials.
- Cadmium pigments can produce intense yellow, orange and red colors.
- Cadmium pollution caused itai-itai disease in Japan, a landmark environmental health case.
- Cadmium has atomic number 48 and belongs to group 12.
- Its electron configuration is [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s².
- Cadmium commonly forms Cd²⁺ compounds.
- Cadmium toxicity should not be confused with usefulness of sealed industrial products such as batteries or CdTe solar modules.
What is the atomic number of cadmium?
The atomic number of cadmium is 48.
What is the electron configuration of cadmium?
Cadmium has the electron configuration [Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s².
Is cadmium toxic?
Yes. Cadmium is toxic, can accumulate in the body and is associated with kidney, bone and cancer risks depending on exposure form and level.
What is cadmium used for?
Cadmium is used in some batteries, pigments, CdTe solar cells, neutron-absorbing materials and specialized coatings.
What are nickel-cadmium batteries?
Nickel-cadmium batteries are rechargeable batteries that use cadmium, but many applications have shifted to other chemistries because of cadmium toxicity.
What is cadmium telluride used for?
Cadmium telluride, CdTe, is used as an absorber material in commercial thin-film solar cells.