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Cadmium: Difference between revisions
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== Properties == | == Properties == | ||
Cadmium is very soft, and in solid form has a silvery-white color. It is so incredibly soft that it can easily be cut with a knife, like an alkali metal. It is is very similar to zinc in chemical properties, but it is less reactive with acids than zinc.<ref name=news>[http://www.eoearth.org/article/Cadmium Properties] Unknown author, International Cadmium Association, Accessed December 1st, 2010.</ref> | |||
Cadmium is very resistant to corrosion, particularly in acidic and seawater environments. It has a low melting temperature, good electrical and thermal conductivity. Compounds containing cadmium possess an amazing resistance to high stress and high temperature. They also lower ultraviolet light degradation of certain plastics. Some cadmium electronic compounds exhibit semi-conducting properties, so they are used in solar cells and many electronic appliances. Cadmium pigments produce intense yellow, orange and red colors, and are widely used in plastics, glasses, ceramics, enamels and artists’ colors.<ref name=Cadmium>[http://www.cadmium.org/ Cadmium] Unknown author, International Cadmium Association, Accessed December 1st, 2010.</ref> | Cadmium is very resistant to corrosion, particularly in acidic and seawater environments. It has a low melting temperature, good electrical and thermal conductivity. Compounds containing cadmium possess an amazing resistance to high stress and high temperature. They also lower ultraviolet light degradation of certain plastics. Some cadmium electronic compounds exhibit semi-conducting properties, so they are used in solar cells and many electronic appliances. Cadmium pigments produce intense yellow, orange and red colors, and are widely used in plastics, glasses, ceramics, enamels and artists’ colors.<ref name=Cadmium>[http://www.cadmium.org/ Cadmium] Unknown author, International Cadmium Association, Accessed December 1st, 2010.</ref> | ||
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== Occurrences == | == Occurrences == | ||
[[File:example.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] | [[File:example.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] | ||
Cadmium is a fairly rare element. Its abundance in the lithosphere is approximately 0.5 parts per million in the earth's crust. No samples of cadmium have ever been found in large quantities, and there is no ore that is mined solely for recovering cadmium. Greenockite (cadmium sulfide) is the compound with the most significant traces of cadmium, and occurs chiefly as a yellow stain or coating on zinc sulfide. Nearly all major zinc deposits contain cadmium in varying amounts, with the concentrates containing a maximum of about 1%.<ref name=facts>[http://nautilus.fis.uc.pt/st2.5/scenes-e/elem/e04820.html | Cadmium is a fairly rare element. Its abundance in the lithosphere is approximately 0.5 parts per million in the earth's crust. No samples of cadmium have ever been found in large quantities, and there is no ore that is mined solely for recovering cadmium. Greenockite (cadmium sulfide) is the compound with the most significant traces of cadmium, and occurs chiefly as a yellow stain or coating on zinc sulfide. Nearly all major zinc deposits contain cadmium in varying amounts, with the concentrates containing a maximum of about 1%.<ref name=facts>[http://nautilus.fis.uc.pt/st2.5/scenes-e/elem/e04820.html Occurrences] Unknown author, fis.uc.pt, Accessed November 19th, 2010.</ref> | ||
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By far, it is most commonly used in nickel-cadmium batteries. It is used in the form of cadmium hydroxide. The batteries themselves are commonly used in the railroad and aircraft industries for starting the vehicles, and also serve as emergency power for these. In addition, they are used in many common appliances such as cordless power tools, cell phones, camcorders, lap tops, portable household appliances and some toys. These batteries are fairly cheap and well suited for high power applications. They generally last for a long time, and when compared to other types of batteries, work very well in extreme high and low temperatures.<ref name=Cadmium/> | By far, it is most commonly used in nickel-cadmium batteries. It is used in the form of cadmium hydroxide. The batteries themselves are commonly used in the railroad and aircraft industries for starting the vehicles, and also serve as emergency power for these. In addition, they are used in many common appliances such as cordless power tools, cell phones, camcorders, lap tops, portable household appliances and some toys. These batteries are fairly cheap and well suited for high power applications. They generally last for a long time, and when compared to other types of batteries, work very well in extreme high and low temperatures.<ref name=Cadmium/> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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[[File:example.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] | [[File:example.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Description]] | ||
Cadmium is one of the most toxic metals, and should be treated as such. The main method of cadmium absorption in industrial exposure is by inhalation, so industrial processes which generate cadmium dust or fumes should be extremely welll ventilated. A single exposure to high concentrations of freshly generated cadmium oxide fumes can cause severe irritation and even lead to deathdeath. | Cadmium is one of the most toxic metals, and should be treated as such. The main method of cadmium absorption in industrial exposure is by inhalation, so industrial processes which generate cadmium dust or fumes should be extremely welll ventilated. A single exposure to high concentrations of freshly generated cadmium oxide fumes can cause severe irritation and even lead to deathdeath. | ||
'''Testing'''<br/> | '''Testing'''<br/> | ||
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'''Treatment'''<br /> | '''Treatment'''<br /> | ||
Cadmium poisoning is irreversible. The cadmium stays in the body system for an extremely long time, and is eventually slowly excreted along with metallothionein. Hemodialysis has been shown to be a somewhat effective method to get rid of cadmium that has not yet been absorbed from the bloodstream, and sometimes EDTA chelation can help speed up the procedure.<ref name=toxipedia/> | Cadmium poisoning is irreversible. The cadmium stays in the body system for an extremely long time, and is eventually slowly excreted along with metallothionein. Hemodialysis has been shown to be a somewhat effective method to get rid of cadmium that has not yet been absorbed from the bloodstream, and sometimes EDTA chelation can help speed up the procedure.<ref name=toxipedia/> | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
