Element 48
Cadmium
Transition metals
Cadmium (Cd) is in the d-block of the periodic table — group 12, period 5.
Cadmium is a chemical element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48.
Key data
- Atomic number
- 48
- Atomic mass
- 112.414 u
- Group / Period
- 12 / 5
- Block
- d-block
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 8.65 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 321.1 °C
- Boiling point
- 766.9 °C
- Electron configuration
- [Kr] 4d10 5s2
Periodic table block
Cadmium is in the d-block (group 12, period 5). Elements land in the d-block when their highest-energy electrons fill a d subshell — these are the transition metals in the middle of the table.
New to this? Periodic table blocks explained: s, p, d, and f
Common uses
- •Rechargeable batteries
- •Pigments
- •Solar cells
Discovery
Year: 1817
Discovered by: Karl Samuel Leberecht Hermann
Named by: Isotopes of cadmium
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of Cadmium?
Cadmium has atomic number 48. Its symbol is Cd and its atomic mass is 112.414 u.
What category of element is Cadmium?
Cadmium is classified as transition metals. It sits in group 12, period 5 of the periodic table.
What block of the periodic table is Cadmium in?
Cadmium is in the d-block (group 12, period 5). Its highest-energy electrons occupy the d subshell — you can see this in its electron configuration, [Kr] 4d10 5s2.
What is Cadmium used for?
Common uses of Cadmium include: Rechargeable batteries, Pigments, Solar cells.
When was Cadmium discovered?
Cadmium was discovered in 1817 by Karl Samuel Leberecht Hermann.
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