Cadmium information, including Technical Data, Safety Data and its High Purity properties, research, applications and other useful facts are discussed below. Scientific facts such as the atomic structure, ionization energy, abundance on Earth, conductivity and thermal properties are included.
 Cadmium is a component of some of the lowest melting alloys; it is used in bearing alloys with low coefficients of friction and great resistance to fatigue. Cadmium is used extensively in electroplating, which accounts for about 60% of its use. It is also used in many types of solder, for standard E.M.F. cells, for nickel-cadmium batteries, and as a barrier to control nuclear fission. Cadmium compounds are used in black and white television phosphors and in blue and green phosphors for color television tubes and CRT monitors. Cadmium in glass and ceramic glazes creates a distinctive cadmium yellow. It forms a number of compounds, of which the sulfate is most common; the sulfide is used as a yellow pigment. Cadmium is similar to carbon in that it has a capacity to form stable covalently bonded molecular networks. Cadmium is available as compounds with purities from 99% to 99.9999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity).
Cadmium is also used in various metal alloys (See AE Alloys).
Cadmium facts, including appearance, CAS #, and molecular formula and safety data, research and properties are available for many specific states, forms and shapes on the product pages listed to the left. Elemental or metallic forms include pellets, rod, wire and granules for evaporation source material purposes. Nanoparticles and nanopowders provide ultra high surface area which nanotechnology research and recent experiments demonstrate function to create new and unique properties and benefits.
Oxides are available in forms including powders and dense pellets for such  uses as optical coating and thin film applications. Oxides tend to be insoluble. Fluorides are another insoluble form for uses in which oxygen is undesirable such as metallurgy, chemical and physical vapor deposition and in some optical coatings. Cadmium is available in soluble forms including chlorides, nitrates and acetates. These compounds are also manufactured as solutions at specified stoichiometries.
Cadmium is a Block D, Group 12, Period 5 element. The number of electrons in each of Cadmium's shells is 2, 8, 18, 18, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Kr] 4d10 5s2. In its elemental form cadmium's CAS number is 7440-43-9. The cadmium atom has a radius of 148.9.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 158.pm. Cadmium and its compounds are very toxic.
 All elemental metals, compounds and solutions may be synthesized in ultra high purity (e.g. 99.999%) for laboratory standards, advanced electronic, thin fillm deposition using sputtering targets and evaporation materials, metallurgy and optical materials and other high technology applications. Information is provided for stable (non-radioactive) isotopes. Organo-Metallic Cadmium compounds are soluble in organic or non-aqueous solvents. See Analytical Services for information on available certified chemical and physical analysis techniques including MS-ICP, X-Ray Diffraction, PSD and Surface Area (BET) analysis.
Cadmium was first discovered by Fredrich Stromeyer in 1817.
The name Cadmium originates from the Latin word 'cadmia' and the Greek word 'kadmeia'.
 Cadmium |
 Cadmium |
 Cadmio |
 Cádmio |
 Cadmio |
 Kadmium |
Abundance. The following table shows the abundance of cadmium and each of its naturally occurring isotopes on Earth along with the atomic mass for each isotope.
| Isotope |
Atomic Mass |
% Abundance on Earth |
| Cd-106 |
105.906458 |
1.25 |
| Cd-108 |
107.904183 |
0.89 |
| Cd-110 |
109.903006 |
12.49 |
| Cd-111 |
110.904182 |
12.80 |
| Cd-112 |
111.902757 |
24.13 |
| Cd-113 |
112.904401 |
12.22 |
| Cd-114 |
113.903358 |
28.73 |
| Cd-116 |
115.904755 |
7.49 |
The following table shows the abundance of Cadmium present in the human body and in the universe scaled to parts per billion (ppb) by weight and by atom:
| |
Typical Human Body |
Universe |
| by Weight |
700 ppb |
2 ppb |
| by Atom |
39 ppb |
0.02 ppb |
Safety Data and Biological Role. The safety data for cadmium metal, nanoparticles and its compounds can vary widely depending on the form. For potential hazard information, toxicity, and road, sea and air transportation limitations, such as DOT Hazard Class, DOT Number, EU Number, NFPA Health rating and RTECS Class, please see the specific material or compound referenced in the left margin. Cadmium compounds have no biological role.
Ionization Energy. The ionization energy for cadmium (the least required energy to release a single electron from the atom in it's ground state in the gas phase) is stated in the following table:
| 1st Ionization Energy |
867.78 kJ mol-1 |
| 2nd Ionization Energy |
1631.42 kJ mol-1 |
| 3rd Ionization Energy |
3616.30 kJ mol-1 |
Conductivity. As to cadmium's electrical and thermal conductivity, the electrical conductivity measured as to electrical resistivity @ 20 ºC is 6.83 μΩcm and its electronegativities (or its ability to draw electrons relative to other elements) is 1.69. The thermal conductivity of cadmium is 96.8 W m-1 K-1.
Thermal Properties. The melting point and boiling point for cadmium are stated below. The following chart sets forth the heat of fusion, heat of vaporization and heat of atomization.
| Heat of Fusion |
6.11 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Vaporization |
100 kJ mol-1 |
| Heat of Atomization |
112.05 kJ mol-1 |
Recent Research & Development for CadmiumVersatile coordination behaviour of an asymmetric half-salen ligand bearing a dansyl fluorophore.
Romero MJ, Pedrido R, González-Noya AM, Maneiro M, Fernández-García MI, Zaragoza G, Bermejo MR.
Dalton Trans. 2012 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22858808
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Cadmium adsorption characteristic of alkali modified sewage sludge.
Hu JL, He XW, Wang CR, Li JW, Zhang CH.
Bioresour Technol. 2012 Jul 6;121C:25-30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22858464
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Cadmium tolerance and accumulation characteristics of mature flax, cv. Hermes: Contribution of the basal stem compared to the root.
Douchiche O, Chaïbi W, Morvan C.
J Hazard Mater. 2012 Jul 20. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22858130
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Effect of dietary cadmium and/or lead on histopathological changes in the kidneys and liver of bank voles Myodes glareolus kept in different group densities.
Salinska A, Wlostowski T, Zambrzycka E.
Ecotoxicology. 2012 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22855305
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Cadmium and Lead Concentrations in the Fish Tissues of a Coastal Lagoon System of the SE Gulf of California.
Quintero-Alvarez JM, Soto-Jiménez MF, Amezcua F, Voltolina D, Frías-Espericueta MG.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2012 Aug 2. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22854923
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Are metallothioneins equally good biomarkers of metal and oxidative stress?
Figueira E, Branco D, Antunes SC, Gonçalves F, Freitas R.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2012 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22854745
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Changes in body burden of mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and selenium in infants during early lactation in comparison with placental transfer.
Sakamoto M, Man Chan H, Domingo JL, Kubota M, Murata K.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2012 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22854743
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Biomarkers of metal toxicity and histology of Perna viridis from Ennore estuary, Chennai, south east coast of India.
Arockia Vasanthi L, Revathi P, Arulvasu C, Munuswamy N.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2012 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22854742
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Are Quantum Dots Toxic? Exploring the Discrepancy Between Cell Culture and Animal Studies.
Tsoi KM, Dai Q, Alman BA, Chan WC.
Acc Chem Res. 2012 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22853558
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Heavy metals health risk assessment for population via consumption of food crops and fruits in Owerri, South Eastern, Nigeria.
Orisakwe OE, Nduka JK, Amadi CN, Dike DO, Bede O.
Chem Cent J. 2012 Aug 1;6(1):77. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22853175
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Free Article
Hygroscopic and Chemical Properties of Aerosols collected near a Copper Smelter: Implications for Public and Environmental Health.
Sorooshian A, Csavina J, Shingler T, Dey S, Brechtel F, Sáez E, Betterton E.
Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22852879
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Sperm quality in adult male rats exposed to cadmium in utero and lactation.
Banzato TP, Godinho AF, da Silva Zacarin EC, Perobelli JE, Fernandez CD, Favareto AP, Kempinas Wde G.
J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2012 Aug 15;75(16-17):1047-58.
PMID:
22852854
[PubMed - in process]
Potential for effects of land contamination on human health. 1. The case of cadmium.
Kah M, Levy L, Brown C.
J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev. 2012 Jul;15(5):348-63.
PMID:
22852814
[PubMed - in process]
Investigation of heavy metal pollution of trees in contaminated industrial area in the north of Iran.
Hashemi SA.
Toxicol Ind Health. 2012 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22851521
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Environmental Cadmium and Lead Exposures and Hearing Loss in US Adults: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999 to 2004.
Choi YH, Hu H, Mukherjee B, Miller J, Park SK.
Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Jul 31. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22851306
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Free Article
Levels of lead, cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc in deciduous teeth of children living in Irbid, Jordan by ICP-OES: some factors affecting their concentrations.
Alomary A, Al-Momani IF, Obeidat SM, Massadeh AM.
Environ Monit Assess. 2012 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22851195
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Dietary cadmium exposure and prostate cancer incidence: a population-based prospective cohort study.
Julin B, Wolk A, Johansson JE, Andersson SO, Andrén O, Akesson A.
Br J Cancer. 2012 Jul 31. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2012.311. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22850555
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The use of the model species Arabidopsis halleri towards phytoextraction of cadmium polluted soils.
Claire-Lise M, Nathalie V.
N Biotechnol. 2012 Jul 28. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22850245
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Sensitive determination of cadmium in brown rice and spinach by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with solid-phase extraction.
Akamatsu S, Yoshioka N, Mitsuhashi T.
Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2012 Aug 1. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID:
22849394
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Genome-Wide Transcriptional Response of the Archaeon Thermococcus gammatolerans to Cadmium.
Lagorce A, Fourçans A, Dutertre M, Bouyssiere B, Zivanovic Y, Confalonieri F.
PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e41935. Epub 2012 Jul 27.
PMID:
22848664
[PubMed - in process] |
