cadmium

[kad-mee-uhm]

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.

cadmium

/ 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

cadmium

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

Other Word Forms

• cadmic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadmium¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cadmium¹

C19: from New Latin, from Latin cadmīa zinc ore, _calamine , referring to the fact that both calamine and cadmium are found in the ore

Example Sentences

They found the most heavily contaminated nurdles were those burnt in the fire, which leach metals toxic to aquatic life, like arsenic, lead, cadmium, copper, cobalt and nickel.

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They say wildfires - and the effects of climate change - could see decades' worth of pollutants like lead, arsenic, mercury and cadmium, released into our water courses.

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It is a probable human carcinogen, with some studies finding lung cancer in workers exposed to cadmium in the air.

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The heavy metal cadmium was identified on the former steel site, and a medical expert cited research linking it to birth defects in animals.

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Organic protein powders were found to contain three times more lead and twice the amount of cadmium compared to non-organic products, per the study.

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