cadmium

American  

[kad-mee-uhm] / ˈkæd mi əm /

noun

1. a white, ductile divalent metallic element resembling tin, used in plating and in making certain alloys. Cd; 112.41; 48; 8.6 at 20°C.

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cadmium British  

/ ˈkædmɪəm /

noun

1. a malleable ductile toxic bluish-white metallic element that occurs in association with zinc ores. It is used in electroplating, alloys, and as a neutron absorber in the control of nuclear fission. Symbol: Cd; atomic no: 48; atomic wt: 112.411; valency: 2; relative density: 8.65; melting pt: 321.1°C; boiling pt: 767°C

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cadmium Scientific  

/ kăd′mē-əm /

1. A rare, soft, bluish-white metallic element that occurs mainly in zinc, copper, and lead ores. Cadmium is plated onto other metals and alloys to prevent corrosion, and it is used in rechargeable batteries and in nuclear control rods as a neutron absorber. Atomic number 48; atomic weight 112.41; melting point 320.9°C; boiling point 765°C; specific gravity 8.65; valence 2.

2. See Periodic Table

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Other Word Forms

• cadmic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of cadmium

1815–25; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin cadm ( īa ) calamine (originally Cadmēa terra < Greek Kadmeía gê Cadmean earth) + -ium -ium

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cadmium

"Elevated concentrations of cadmium and nickel in freshwater, and cadmium and arsenic in soil, were largely confined to Deene Quarry and a former slag heap in Weldon," the group added.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

Testing revealed that water samples from her bottle contained levels of the toxic heavy metal cadmium far above the federal limit for drinking water, according to court documents.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

Burnt-sienna vines twist through simmering ocher air, while flora sprout through these roiling masses in hues of chromium oxide and cadmium green.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

Researchers from the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology collected pollen using pollen traps and measured levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, and tin in both pollen and adult bees.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026

I need to sink my fingers, my hands, into chartreuse, into magenta, into turquoise, into cadmium yellow.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

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