Cadmium is a rare, toxic metallic element used in battery manufacturing, pigments, alloys, and semiconductors. It is found in small deposits on every continent and is usually extracted from minerals. Cadmium is highly toxic and can accumulate in the body, causing harm to internal organs. It is a carcinogen and can be difficult to remove from polluted areas.
Cadmium is a rare metallic element found in small deposits on nearly every continent. It has a number of uses, perhaps most famously as a pigment in paint, and can be expensive due to its rarity. This element is also toxic and must be handled with care; people who are exposed to cadmium due to their occupations should exercise routine precautions, as it will bioaccumulate, concentrating in the body without being eliminated like other toxins are.
Pure cadmium is rare in nature. The element is usually found in combination with other elements, typically copper, zinc and lead. It is extracted from these minerals during the smelting process or with the help of chemicals such as sulfuric acid. When isolated, cadmium is a soft, bluish white metal that is highly ductile, making it extremely suitable for metal alloys. The atomic number of the element is 48, and it is identified on the periodic table of elements with the symbol Cd, among the transition metals.
Fredrich Stromeyer identified cadmium in 1817, when he was studying zinc and its impurities. The element is named after the Greek god Cadmus, who had an adventurous life around 2000 BC, according to Greek mythology. Initially, cadmium’s toxicity was not recognized and it was even used as a medical treatment until scientists realized how harmful the element was. This practice is actually surprisingly common with many chemicals, such as lead and arsenic, both of which have historically been used in makeup compounds.
Most of the world’s cadmium is used in battery manufacturing, especially rechargeable batteries such as nickel-cadmium batteries. It is also used to make yellow, orange and red pigments and is sometimes added to plastics as a stabilizer. The element is also used in alloys, solders, and some semiconductors, and there are numerous uses for its compounds and the element itself.
Cadmium and its compounds are generally considered carcinogens by most health and safety agencies. The element irritates internal organs such as the lungs and intestines when inhaled or ingested, and long-term exposure to high levels can cause death. People are exposed to metal through occupations that involve its use, along with air and water pollution. Once cadmium has polluted an area, it can also be very difficult to remove; this is a big problem in areas where metal is mined and worked.
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