Cd
Cadmium
Element 48 · Transition metal
Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium is a soft, bluish-white metal similar to zinc. It is toxic, and its use is now heavily restricted.
- Transition metal
- Period 5
- Group 12
- d-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 112.41
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2
- Melting point
- 321.1 °C
- 594.22 K
- Boiling point
- 766.9 °C
- 1,040 K
- Density
- 8.69 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.69
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 158 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 8.994 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about cadmium
- 01
Cadmium poisoning caused the itai-itai (“ouch-ouch”) disease in Japan in the 20th century.
- 02
Cadmium pigments make brilliant yellows, oranges and reds favoured by painters like Monet.
- 03
Cadmium absorbs neutrons strongly and is used in reactor control rods.
Applications
What is cadmium used for?
- Nickel–cadmium batteries
- Pigments
- Nuclear control rods
- Cadmium telluride solar cells
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Year
Where
Germany
Name origin
Latin cadmia, “calamine” (zinc carbonate), in which it was found.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 48
- Atomic mass
- 112.41 u
- Group
- 12
- Period
- 5
- Block
- d-block
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 4p6 5s2 4d10
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 18, 2
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.69
- Electron affinity
- —
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 158 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 6
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+2).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st867.8
- 2nd1,631.4
- 3rd3,616
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 594.22 K · 321.1 °C · 609.9 °F
- Boiling point
- 1,040 K · 766.9 °C · 1,412.3 °F
- Density
- 8.69 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 26.02 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Silvery bluish-grey metallic
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Cadmium questions
What is Cd on the periodic table?
Cd is the symbol for cadmium, element 48 on the periodic table. It sits in group 12, period 5, in the transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 112.41.
What is the atomic number of cadmium?
Cadmium has atomic number 48, so every cadmium atom has 48 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Cd and its atomic mass is 112.41.
Who discovered cadmium?
Cadmium was discovered by Friedrich Stromeyer in 1817 (Germany). The name comes from Latin cadmia, “calamine” (zinc carbonate), in which it was found.
What is cadmium used for?
Cadmium is used for: nickel–cadmium batteries; pigments; nuclear control rods; cadmium telluride solar cells.
Is cadmium a metal?
Yes. Cadmium is a transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of cadmium?
The electron configuration of cadmium is [Kr] 4d10 5s2. Its 48 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 18, 2.