Cadmium

Cadmium is used for low-melting alloys, bearing alloys of low friction and high resistance to fatigue, electroplating, silver solder, nickel-cadmium batteries, and a barrier to control atomic fission.   Cadmium compounds are used for TV colors and cadmium sulfide, CdS, is used in pigments. ^{Lide 4-6}   Cadmium is also used to color plastics, ceramic glazes and glass. ^{Lide 4-6}

Cadmium was discoverd by Friedrich Strohmeyer, a German chemist, in 1817 from an impurity in zinc carbonate.   Cadmium often occurs in small amounts in zinc ores, such as sphalerite (ZnS) and Greenockite (CdS).   Almost all commercial cadmium is obtained as a byproduct from zinc, copper and lead ores. ^{Lide 4-6}