Atomic number 48
Cadmium
Transition metal
Quick facts
- Atomic mass
- 112.41
- Group
- 12
- Period
- 5
- State (STP)
- solid
- Electronegativity
- 1.69
- Common ox. states
- +2
Properties
Electron configuration
[Kr] 4d¹⁰ 5s²
- Ionization energy
- 867.8 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- -68.0 kJ/mol
- Melting point
- 594.22 K (321.1 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1040.00 K (766.9 °C)
How it bonds
Cadmium parallels zinc — filled d shell, only +2 oxidation state. Notoriously toxic (it displaces zinc in critical enzymes). Used in NiCd rechargeable batteries (now mostly phased out) and as the yellow / red pigment in old paint (cadmium yellow, cadmium red).