ABSTRACT
Cadmium is a grey-white, soft, blue-white malleable, lustrous metal. It is insoluble in cold water, hot water, methanol, diethyl ether, and n-octanol. It is stable and incompatible with strong oxidising agents, nitrates, nitric acid, selenium, and zinc, and the powdered metal may be pyrophoric and ammable. Cadmium is associated with occupations such as industrial processes, metal plating, and production of nickel-cadmium batteries, pigments, plastics, and other synthetics. Cadmium metal is produced as a by-product from the extraction, smelting, and rening of the non-ferrous metals zinc, lead, and copper. In view of the unique properties, cadmium metal and cadmium compounds are used as pigments, stabilisers, coatings, specialty alloys, and electronic compounds.
