Cadmium is a soft metal, bluish silvery-white in colour. In 1817, Friedrich Stromeyer, a German chemist, discovered cadmium after isolating it from zinc carbonate. Another German, Karl Samuel Leberecht Hermann, had also discovered the element in the same year. The name comes from the Latin word ‘cadmia’, the name for the calamine ore.
In bulk, cadmium is non-flammable, but will burn and release poisonous fumes when in a powder form. Earlier, cadmium was used in the manufacture of paints and screws but now it is not used for those purposes as the element is found to be toxic.
Cadmium is naturally resistant to corrosion; and therefore, it is often used as a protective coating on metals. Cadmium electroplating is especially common for aircraft. The element plays a key role in the production of rechargeable batteries, specifically nickel-cadmium batteries. It also plays a significant role in nuclear energy, as cadmium serves as both a barrier and as an alloy for pressurized water reactors.
The atomic number of cadmium is 48, and its atomic symbol is Cd.
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