48
Room of the Elements · No. 48
Cadmium (Cd): what kind of element is it?
日本語
In short
Cadmium is element number 48, a metal with the symbol Cd. It was found inside zinc, and on the periodic table it sits directly below zinc.
Atomic number 48112.4
CdCadmiumカドミウム (kadomiumu)- Symbol
- Cd
- Atomic weight
- 112.4
- Place in the table
- Period 5 · Group 12
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
Found inside zinc
Cadmium was discovered in 1817, in zinc oxide that was being sold. Its name comes from the Greek word for a mineral containing zinc.
Where it sits on the table
Cadmium is in the fifth row of Group 12, with zinc above and mercury below. Both its discovery and its place on the table tie it closely to zinc.
Think about it
- Q1Why might elements in the same column be found together in the same ore?
- Q2How could a new element be found in a chemical that was on sale?
- Q3Look for things zinc, cadmium and mercury in Group 12 have in common.
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Lithium and selenium were also discovered in 1817.