Cadmium sulfide is a semiconductor mineral used as a yellow pigment and in some solar cells. It can be toxic and flammable when exposed to acid. Cadmium-based solar cells are controversial due to potential toxic exposure. Cadmium yellow is a popular pigment with complementary colors ranging from blue to aquamarine and adjacent colors from orange to red-orange and spring-green yellows. When exposed to acid, cadmium sulfide turns into a flammable gas called hydrogen sulfide, which is deadly and has been used in chemical warfare and terrorist attacks.
Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is a brightly colored semiconductor mineral often used as a yellow to yellow-orange pigment. In its natural state, when cadmium sulfide forms into a crystal, it is called Greenockite. When seen as a dusty-looking yellow mineral coating on rocks, it is called Hawleyite. A component in some types of solar cells, the mineral is most often mentioned in the field of inorganic chemistry. Soluble in acid and slightly soluble in water, when cadmium reacts with acid it turns into a flammable toxic gas.
The molecular weight of cadmium sulfide is 144.5 and it melts at 3,182 degrees Fahrenheit (1,750 degrees Celsius). Molecular weight is a measure of the weight of a single atom of a chemical substance, measured against the standard unit of weight of molecular mass. Industrially, thin films of cadmium sulfide are produced to create a type of solar cell called a cadmium telluride photovoltaic cell.
Cadmium-based solar cells are considered to be one of the least expensive types of solar cells on the market. The use of the material is somewhat controversial because the possibility of toxic cadmium telluride exposure from cells has been reported, especially when cells begin to break down from wear and sun exposure. The most common material used in most solar cells is silicon.
As a pigment, this mineral goes by many names, including lemon iron yellow, cadmium yellow, and aurora yellow. Cadmium yellow is well known as a bright yellow shade for the eyes. The name cadmium is used to designate a certain type of color and not all materials labeled cadmium yellow contain cadmium sulfide as a coloring agent.
Complementary colors and adjacent colors are color references used in conjunction with a color wheel to determine aesthetically pleasing color combinations. A color wheel is essentially a spectrum of colors arranged in a circle, like a circular rainbow. For cadmium yellows, the corresponding complementary colors, which are the colors on the opposite side of the color wheel, range from deep, true blue tones to a bluish aquamarine color. Adjacent colors, located right next to cadmium yellows on the color wheel, include colors from orange to red-orange and spring-green yellows.
When exposed to acid, this mineral turns into a deadly flammable gas called hydrogen sulfide. Also called “sewer gas,” hydrogen sulfide gas is one of the flammable components in natural gas. It has been used as a chemical weapon in warfare and in numerous terrorist attacks, particularly in Japan.
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