• Skip to page content
• Skip to ad free user log in
• Skip to site menu on this page

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 studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Cadmium Menu

• Cadmium Page One
  • Overview of Cadmium
  • Cadmium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Cadmium
  • Chemical Properties of Cadmium
  • Physical Properties of Cadmium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Cadmium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Cadmium Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Cadmium

Overview of Cadmium

• Atomic Number:48
• Group: 12
• Period: 5
• Series: Transition Metals

Cadmium's Name in Other Languages

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

Atomic Structure of Cadmium

• Atomic Radius: 1.71Å
• Atomic Volume: 13.1cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.48Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture)_a/barns: 2450
• Crystal Structure: Hexagonal

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁶d¹⁰ 4s²p⁶d¹⁰ 5s²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,18,18,2

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.97Å
• Filling Orbital: 4d¹⁰
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 48
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 64
• Number of Protons: 48
• Oxidation States: 2
• Valence Electrons: 5s²

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Cadmium

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 2.097g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.22eV
• Electronegativity: 1.69 (Pauling); 1.46 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 6.192kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

  strong oxidizers, ammonium nitrate, hydrazoic acid, tellurium, zinc, elemental sulfur, selenium

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 8.993
  • Second: 16.908
  • Third: 37.48
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 30

Physical Properties of Cadmium

• Atomic Mass Average: 112.411
• Boiling Point: 1038K 765°C 1409°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 29.8E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 0.138 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.968 W/cmK

• Density: 8.65g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Silvery white transition metal.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 42/GPa
  • Rigidity: 19/GPa
  • Youngs: 50/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 113 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 6.19 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 100 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class: Non-combustible solid (except as dust)
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 203 MN m^-2
  • Mohs: 2
• Heat of Vaporization: 99.57kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 594.33K 321.18°C 610.12°F
  
• Molar Volume: 13.01 cm³/mole
• Optical Reflectivity: 67%
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.231J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 14.8Pa@321.18°C

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.

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Notes below

Cadmium Menu

• Cadmium Page One
  • Overview of Cadmium
  • Cadmium's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Cadmium
  • Chemical Properties of Cadmium
  • Physical Properties of Cadmium
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Cadmium Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Cadmium Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Cadmium

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
  Answers many questions regarding the structure of atoms.
• Molarity, Molality and Normality
  Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.
• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Cadmium – Cd. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 1/8/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Cd.html
.