Element 48
Cadmium (Cd)
Cadmium (Cd) is element 48 of the periodic table, a transition metal in period 5, group 12 (d-block) with an atomic mass of 112.41 and is a solid at standard conditions.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 48
- Symbol
- Cd
- Atomic mass
- 112.41 u
- Category
- Transition metals
- Period
- 5
- Group
- 12
- Block
- d-block
- Phase at STP
- solid
Electron structure
- Electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s2 4p6 4d10 5s2
- Shorthand configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 18, 2
- Oxidation states
- -2, +1, +2
Physical properties
- Melting point
- 594.22 K (321.07 °C)
- Boiling point
- 1,040 K (766.85 °C)
- Density
- 8.69 g/cm³
- Phase
- solid
Atomic properties
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.69
- Atomic radius
- 161 pm
- Covalent radius
- 144 pm
- Van der Waals radius
- 158 pm
- First ionization energy
- 868 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 0 kJ/mol
Notable isotopes
| Isotope | Mass | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cd-114 | 113.90336 | 28.73% | Stable |
Common uses
- Batteries
- Pigments
- Coatings
- Solar cells
Discovery
- Year
- 1817
- Discovered by
- Friedrich Stromeyer
- Country
- Germany
Frequently asked questions
- Is cadmium a metal?
- Yes. Cadmium is a metal, classified as a transition metal on the periodic table.
- How many protons does cadmium have?
- Cadmium has 48 protons. Its atomic number is 48, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of cadmium.
- What group and period is cadmium in?
- Cadmium is in group 12 and period 5 of the periodic table, in the d-block.
- What is the atomic mass of cadmium?
- The atomic mass of cadmium is 112.41 u (unified atomic mass units).
Keep exploring
Cadmium's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.