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cad·mi·um   Pronunciation Key  (kdm-m)
n. 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.
[Latin cadma, calamine (from its being found with calamine in zinc ore) (from Greek kadmeia (g), Theban (earth), from Kadmos, Cadmus. See Cadmus) + -ium.]
 
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


cadmium

\Cad"mi*um\, n. [NL. See Cadmia.] (Chem.) A comparatively rare element related to zinc, and occurring in some zinc ores. It is a white metal, both ductile and malleable. Symbol Cd. Atomic weight 111.8. It was discovered by Stromeyer in 1817, who named it from its association with zinc or zinc ore.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


cadmium

n : a soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores [syn: Cd, atomic number 48]
Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University


cadmium
Symbol: Cd
Atomic number: 48
Atomic weight: 112.40
Soft bluish metal belonging to group 12 of the periodic table. Extremely toxic even in low concentrations. Chemically similar to zinc, but lends itself to more complex compounds. Discovered in 1817 by F. Stromeyer.
Source: The Elements