Periodic Table of Elements

Element Cadmium - Cd

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Cadmium is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Cadmium. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

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Overview of Cadmium

Cadmium's Name in Other Languages

  • Latin: Cadmium
  • Czech: Kadmium
  • Croatian: Kadmij
  • French: Cadmium
  • German: Cadmium - s
  • Italian: Cadmio
  • Norwegian: Kadmium
  • Portuguese: Cádmio
  • Russian: Кадмий
  • Spanish: Cadmio
  • Swedish: Kadmium

Atomic Structure of Cadmium

Chemical Properties of Cadmium

Physical Properties of Cadmium

Regulatory / Health

  • CAS Number
    • 7440-43-9 compounds
  • UN/NA ID and ERG Guide Number
    • 2570  / 154 compounds
  • RTECS: EU9800000
  • OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
    • TWA: 0.005 mg/m3
  • OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
    • TWA: 0.005 mg/m3
  • NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
    • IDLH: 9 mg/m3 (Potential NIOSH carcinogen)
  • Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion
  • Target Organs: Respiratory system, kidneys, prostate, blood
  • Levels In Humans:
    Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
    • Blood/mg dm-3: 0.0052
    • Bone/p.p.m: 1.8
    • Liver/p.p.m: 2-22
    • Muscle/p.p.m: 0.14-3.2
    • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.007-3 mg
    • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 50 mg

Who / Where / When / How

  • Discoverer: Fredrich Stromeyer
  • Discovery Location: Göttingen Germany
  • Discovery Year: 1817
  • Name Origin:
    Greek: kadmeia (ancient name for calamine (ZnCO3)); Latin: cadmia.
  • Abundance of Cadmium:
    • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 0.11
    • Seawater/p.p.m.:
      • Atlantic Suface: 0.0000011
      • Atlantic Deep: 0.000038
      • Pacific Surface: 0.0000011
      • Pacific Deep: 0.0001
    • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
    • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 71
  • Sources of Cadmium:
    Obtained as a by product of zinc refining. Annual world production is around 13,900 tons.
  • Uses of Cadmium:
    Used in nickel-cadmium batteries, nuclear reactor regulator, and red/yellow pigments.
  • Additional Notes:
    While cadmium is toxic, fatal poisonings rarely occur because of its emetic action, which means little is absorbed.

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References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

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