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cadmium

(kad′mē əm)

noun

a silver-white, malleable, ductile, metallic chemical element occurring as a sulfide or carbonate in zinc ores: it is used in some low-melting alloys, electroplating, rechargeable batteries, etc.: highly toxic dust or fumes: symbol, Cd; at. no., 48

Origin: ModL < L cadmia, zinc ore < Gr kadmeia(gē), Cadmean (earth) (so called because found near Thebes, home of Cadmus) + -ium: so named (1817) by F. Strohmeyer (1776-1835), Ger chemist, because frequently found assoc. with zinc

Related Forms:

cadmic adjective

See cadmium in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun 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.

Origin:

Origin: Latin cadmīa, calamine (from its being found with calamine in zinc ore) (from Greek kadmeia (gē), Theban (earth), from Kadmos, Cadmus; see Cadmus)

Origin: + -ium

Related Forms: