cadmium

cad·mi·um   (kād'mē-əm)    n.   Symbol Cd A soft, bluish-white metallic element occurring primarily in zinc, copper, and lead ores, that is easily cut with a knife and is used in low-friction, fatigue-resistant alloys, solders, dental amalgams, nickel-cadmium storage batteries, nuclear reactor shields, and in rustproof electroplating. Atomic number 48; atomic weight 112.41; melting point 320.9°C; boiling point 765°C; specific gravity 8.65; valence 2. See Table at element. [Latin cadmīa, calamine (from its being found with calamine in zinc ore) (from Greek kadmeia (gē), Theban (earth), from Kadmos, Cadmus; see Cadmus) + -ium.] cad'mic (-mĭk) adj.

Main Entry: cad·mi·um
Pronunciation: 'kad-mE-&m
Function: noun
: a bluish white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element usedespecially in protective platings and in bearing metals —symbol Cd; —see ELEMENT table

cadmium cad·mi·um (kād'mē-əm)
n.
Symbol Cd
A soft metallic element occurring primarily in zinc, copper, and lead ores that is used in low-friction fatigue-resistant alloys, solders, batteries, nuclear reactor shields, and electroplating. Atomic number 48; atomic weight 112.41; melting point 321.7°C; boiling point 767°C; specific gravity 8.65; valence 2.

cadmium   (kād'mē-əm)  Pronunciation Key  Symbol Cd A rare, soft, bluish-white metallic element that occurs mainly in zinc, copper, and lead ores. Cadmium is plated onto other metals and alloys to prevent corrosion, and it is used in rechargeable batteries and in nuclear control rods as a neutron absorber. Atomic number 48; atomic weight 112.41; melting point 320.9°C; boiling point 765°C; specific gravity 8.65; valence 2. See Periodic Table.