Chemical Elements History and Information Cadmium

About the chemical element Cadmium, its symbol, atomic number and weight, who discovered it and when.

The Atomic Elements and Their Uses

(Element) (Symbol) (Atomic number) (Atomic weight)

Cadmium Cd 48 112.41

Discovered by Friedrich Strohmeyer of Germany in 1817. Although cadmium is one of the most toxic metals, it is used to plate hinges, screws, handles, and other hardware items. Children should never be allowed to suck on objects which have been coated with cadmium, and anyone welding cadmium-plated metals should be careful not to inhale fumes. Cadmium is an insidious poison, because there are no noticeable symptoms the first few hours after exposure. Then the victim suddenly falls into shock, followed by coma and death.