Cadmium

Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd and atomic number 48. It's a soft, bluish-white metal that is chemically similar to the two other stable metals in group 12, zinc and mercury. Like zinc, it prefers oxidation state +2 in most of its compounds and like mercury, it has a lower melting point than the transition metals in groups 3 through 11. Cadmium and its congeners are not always considered transition metals, in that they do not form part of the d-block metals of the periodic table. However, they can be considered transition metals under a more lenient definition.

Cadmium is found naturally in the earth's crust and is a byproduct of the smelting of other metals such as zinc, lead, and copper. Cadmium has various industrial applications, including in batteries, pigments, coatings, and as a stabilizer in plastics. However, it is toxic and poses significant environmental and health risks when not properly managed, leading to its regulation in many countries. Exposure to cadmium can occur through the inhalation of dust and fumes in industrial workplaces, ingestion of contaminated food and water, or through use of products containing cadmium. Chronic exposure to cadmium can lead to kidney damage, bone disease, and cancers.