48Cd112.41
Cadmium
Transition metalsHard, shiny metals that conduct heat and electricity well and often form coloured compounds.
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s²
- Atomic number
- 48
- Atomic mass
- 112.41
- Protons
- 48
- Neutrons
- 64 (most common)
- Electrons
- 48
- Shells
- 2, 8, 18, 18, 2
- State at 25 °C
- Solid
- Position
- Group 12, period 5
Proton (+)Neutron (0)Electron (−)
Discovered byFriedrich Stromeyer, 1817Friedrich Stromeyer: 1 element
Stromeyer found it as an impurity in zinc carbonate being sold as medicine.
Did you know?
- It is toxic, so its use is now tightly controlled.
- Painters used cadmium yellow for over a century.
Where it's found
- Zinc ores
What it's used for
- Nickel–cadmium batteries
- Bright yellow and red pigments
- Control rods in nuclear reactors
Try it
There's no safe home experiment for Cadmium. Explore it with the animated atom above instead.