Cadmium is a transition metal, one of the elements found in Rows 4 through 7 between Groups 2 and 13 in the periodic table. Cadmium has an atomic number of 48, an atomic mass of 112.41, and a chemical symbol of Cd.

Properties

Cadmium is a shiny metal with a bluish cast. It is very soft and can almost be scratched with a fingernail. Its melting point is 610°F (321°C) and its boiling point is 1,410°F (765°C). The density of cadmium is 8.65 grams per cubic centimeter. When cadmium is used in alloys, it tends to lower the melting point of the alloy. Cadmium reacts slowly with oxygen in moist air at room temperature forming cadmium oxide (CdO). It does not react with water, but it does react with most acids.

Occurrence and Extraction

Cadmium is relatively rare in the Earth's crust with an estimated abundance of about 0.1-0.2 parts per...