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n. Symbol Cd A soft, bluish-white metallic element occurring primarily in zinc, copper, and lead ores, that is easily cut with a knife and is used in nickel-cadmium storage batteries, rustproof electroplating, nuclear reactor shields, solders, and in low-friction, fatigue-resistant alloys. Atomic number 48; atomic weight 112.41; melting point 321.1°C; boiling point 767°C; specific gravity 8.65; valence 2. See Periodic Table. [Latin cadmīa, calamine (the ore of zinc from which cadmium was first extracted as an impurity) (from Greek kadmeia (gē), Theban (earth), from Kadmos, Cadmus; see CADMUS) + -IUM.] cadmic (-mĭk) adj. |
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