cadmium [Cd]
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Introduction
From the Latin cadmia, calamine (cadmium carbonate) Discovered in 1817 by German chemist Fredich Stromeyer.
Occurrence
- obtained largely as a byproduct of smelting of zinc ore
Characteristics
- blueish white malleable ductile metallic element
- soft enough to cut with a knife
- non-volatile
- bivalent
- toxic
- poisoning rarely occurs because very little can be absorbed
- linked to renal failure & hypertension
- Cd-113 has a 1/2life of 9.3 x 10 E15 years
Uses
- protective platings
- bearing metals
- batteries (esp with nickel)
- rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries
- alloys
- nuclear reactor control rods
- cadmium compounds
- cadmium sulfide is a yellow compound used as a pigment
- other cadmium compounds use used as phosphors in televisions