21 Facts About Cadmium

Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48.

Cadmium occurs as a minor component in most zinc ores and is a byproduct of zinc production.

Cadmium was used for a long time as a corrosion-resistant plating on steel, and cadmium compounds are used as red, orange and yellow pigments, to color glass, and to stabilize plastic.

Cadmium use is generally decreasing because it is toxic and nickel-cadmium batteries have been replaced with nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion batteries.

Cadmium burns in air to form brown amorphous cadmium oxide ; the crystalline form of this compound is a dark red which changes color when heated, similar to zinc oxide.

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Cadmium is created via the s-process in low- to medium-mass stars with masses of 0.

Cadmium was discovered in contaminated zinc compounds sold in pharmacies in Germany in 1817 by Friedrich Stromeyer.

Cadmium was persistent in studying these results and eventually isolated cadmium metal by roasting and reducing the sulfide.

Cadmium is a common impurity in zinc ores, and it is most often isolated during the production of zinc.

Cadmium is isolated from the zinc metal by vacuum distillation if the zinc is smelted, or cadmium sulfate is precipitated from the electrolysis solution.

Cadmium is a common component of electric batteries, pigments, coatings, and electroplating.

Cadmium is used in the control rods of nuclear reactors, acting as a very effective neutron poison to control neutron flux in nuclear fission.

Cadmium oxide was used in black and white television phosphors and in the blue and green phosphors of color television cathode ray tubes.

Cadmium sulfide is used as a photoconductive surface coating for photocopier drums.

Cadmium selenide is a red pigment, commonly called cadmium red.

Cadmium is used in many kinds of solder and bearing alloys, because it has a low coefficient of friction and fatigue resistance.

Cadmium has no known function in higher organisms and is considered toxic.

Cadmium is considered an environmental pollutant that causes health hazard to living organisms.

Cadmium is under research regarding its toxicity in humans, potentially elevating risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis.

Cadmium is one of six substances banned by the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive, which regulates hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, but allows for certain exemptions and exclusions from the scope of the law.

Cadmium exposure is associated with a large number of illnesses including kidney disease, early atherosclerosis, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases.