cadmium
/'kædmiəm/
Definition
- Noun:
- A chemical element: Cadmium is a soft, bluish-white, toxic metallic element that is ductile and malleable. It has the atomic number 48 and the symbol Cd.
- Occurrence: It is commonly found in association with zinc ores.
Usage
- Cadmium is primarily used in industrial contexts, such as in batteries (especially nickel-cadmium batteries), pigments, and metal plating.
- It is a noun and is typically used in scientific, industrial, or environmental discussions.
Examples
- Noun:
- The factory's waste contained high levels of cadmium, which polluted the local river.
- Nickel-cadmium batteries were once very common in portable electronics.
- Cadmium yellow is a pigment known for its bright color but also for its toxicity.
Advanced Usage
- "Cadmium plating": A process of electroplating a thin layer of cadmium onto a metal object to provide corrosion resistance.
- The aircraft components received cadmium plating for protection against rust.
- "Cadmium poisoning": A medical condition caused by excessive exposure to cadmium, which can lead to kidney and bone damage.
- Workers in the battery plant were screened regularly for signs of cadmium poisoning.
Variants and Related Words
- Cadmium sulfide (CdS): A chemical compound used as a yellow pigment and in some solar cells.
- Cadmium telluride (CdTe): A compound used in thin-film solar panels.
Synonyms
- Element 48: Referring to its atomic number.
- Metallic element: A general category to which it belongs. (Note: This is a very broad synonym.)
Different Meanings
- Cadmium almost exclusively refers to the chemical element. It does not have common idiomatic or figurative meanings outside of scientific terminology.
Notes on Usage
- Cadmium is a countable noun when referring to the element in general ("Cadmium is toxic") and can be uncountable when referring to it as a substance ("a sample of cadmium").
- Due to its toxicity, the word is often used in contexts discussing environmental pollution, workplace safety, and health regulations.
Noun
-
a soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores
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