Cadmium

Located at Group 12 and Periof 5 of the Periodic Table is one of the element used in rechargeable batteries. This is Cadmium.

Friedrich Stromeyer

First discovered by a German chemist called Friedrich Stromeyer and also isolated by Friedrich Stromeyer in 1817.

Friedrich was a professor at Göttingen University, and also a government inspector. So one day, he set out his job as an inspector and inspected the Pharmacies. On one inspection trip, Friedrich noticed that there were a numerous of Pharmacies which used Zinc Carbonate cream instead of Zinc Oxide Cream ( For sunburns, rashes and bug bites ), which now is known as Calamine Lotion.

So, Friedrich set out to see the supplier and the supplier explained that no one wants to accept Zinc Oxide because the Compound turned yellow when heated. The supplier checked to see if there is any presence of Iron, since yellow color meant the impurity of element with Iron. However, the supplier found no iron at presence.

Yellow Zinc Oxide

The Supplier also added that the Pharmacies would not accept Yellow Zinc Oxide, so, the supplier suggested to use Zinc Carbonate, which the pharmacies agreed.

After Friedrich heard the supplier's story, he went to analyze this odd yellow Zinc Oxide.Finally, he used discovered a new element, which is called after that named Cadmium.

People today use Friedrich's method to isolate Cadmium, which because Zinc and Cadmium have different temperatures, so Zinc will turn solid first. This makes people easily separate Zinc and Cadmium.

Cigarette Smoking

Cadmium is one of the major sources at Cigarette Smoking, certain foods including shellfish, liver, and kidney meats, coal burning and contaminated water. Low consuming of Cadmium will cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting and Diarrhea. If inhaled, Cadmium dust will cause dryness to throat, choking, headache, and even pneumonia like symptoms.

There is also a Cadmium - Poisoning disease called Itai - Itai, meaning ' ouch - ouch ' in Japanese. Cadmium poisoning can cause aches and pains in the bones and joints. Until 1970, number of cases of Itai - Itai has been reported in Japan when waste from the Zinc refinery got into the public water supply, which after that was proven to contain poisonous Cadmium compounds.

Manufacturing Nickel - Cadmium batteries

So, because Cadmium is so toxic, workers making Nickel - Cadmium batteries have to handle Cadmium with care.

Atomic Number : 48
Name : Cadmium
Latin Name : Cadmium
Electrons per shell : [ 2, 8, 18, 18, 2 ]
Discoverer : Friedrich Stromeyer ( 1803 )
Isolator : Friedrich Stromeyer ( 1803 )
Element's : Atomic Mass : 112.41 u
                  : Density : 8.65 g/cm³
                  : Type : Transition Metals
Chemical Properties : 

Cadmium - 112

• Reacts slowly with oxygen in moist air
• doesn't react with water
• reacts with most acids
• 50 isotopes : 3 of them are :
         Cadmium - 110 : Protons : 48
                                   : Neutrons : 62
                                   : Electons : 48
    ( Half Life : Stable )
  
         Cadmium - 111 : Protons : 48
                                   : Neutrons : 63
                                   : Electons : 48
    ( Half Life : Stable )
  
         Cadmium - 112 : Protons : 48
                                   : Neutrons : 64
                                   : Electons : 48
    ( Half Life : Stable )

Physical Properties : 

• Shiny metal
• Bluish cast
• soft
• Melting Point : 321 degrees Celsius ( 610 Fahrenheit )
• Boiling Point : 765 degrees Celsius ( 1410 Fahrenheit )

How Cadmium got its name?

Cadmium got its name from an ancient name of Zinc Oxide called Calamine, a compound used in Calamine Lotions, mainly for treating rashes, sun burns and more.

Calamine Lotion

Uses

Cadmium has some uses in industry and laser technology. Cadmium is used to make rechargeable batteries called Cadmium - Nickel batteries, or known as Nicad batteries. Nicad batteries is used in many places such as compact disc players, cellular telephones, pocket recorders, handheld power tools and many more. Nicad batteries is also investigated by two French Automobile Manufacturers, which they are exploring the possibility of applying Nicad batteries in electric cars.

Nickel - Cadmium batteries

THIS IS THE END OF CADMIUM

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