Cadmium > MSDS
From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
Contents |
Compounds
Cadmium arsenide – Cd3As2
Cadmium bromide – CdBr2
Cadmium chloride – CdCl2
Cadmium fluoride – CdF2
Cadmium iodide – CdI2
Cadmium nitrate – Cd(NO3)2
Cadmium selenide – CdSe (of quantum dot fame)
Cadmium sulfate – CdSO4
Cadmium telluride – CdTe
Uses
Hazard
Danger! Flammable solid. May be fatal if inhaled. Harmful if swallowed. Causes eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Cancer hazard. Avoid creating dust. Can cause lung and kidney disease. Inhalation of fumes may cause metal-fume fever. Air sensitive. May cause reproductive and fetal effects. Target Organs: Blood, kidneys, liver, lungs, skeletal structures, prostate.
Stability and Reactivity
Chemical Stability: Oxidizes when exposed to air. Easily tarnishes in moist air. Powder or liquid is pyrophoric. Contact with acid liberates gas. Conditions to Avoid: Ignition sources, dust generation, excess heat, prolonged exposure to air. Incompatibilities with Other Materials: Strong oxidizing agents, acids, sulfur, zinc, selenium, tellurium. Hazardous Decomposition Products: Toxic cadmium oxide fumes. Hazardous Polymerization: Has not been reported.
Potential Health Effects
Eye: Causes eye irritation.
Skin: Causes skin irritation.
Ingestion: Harmful if swallowed. May cause gastrointestinal irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Ingestion may produce fluid loss, acute renal failure, and cardiopulmonary depression.
Inhalation: May be fatal if inhaled. Inhalation of fumes may cause metal fume fever, which is characterized by flu-like symptoms with metallic taste, fever, chills, cough, weakness, chest pain, muscle pain and increased white blood cell count. Damage may be delayed. May cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, chest tightness, weakness, and delayed pulmonary edema. In humans inhalation causes proteinuria, an excess of protein in the urine.
Chronic: May cause respiratory tract cancer. Repeated inhalation may cause chronic bronchitis. Chronic inhalation may cause nasal septum ulceration and perforation. Cadmium and compounds may cause lung, liver and kidney damage and lung and prostate cancer in humans. May cause loss of smell, emphysema, anemia, bone demineralization, and lung fibrosis. The primary target organ for chronic cadmium disease is clearly the kidney.
Properties
| Properties of Cadmium | ||
| Atomic symbol: | Cd | |
| Atomic number: | 48 | |
| Atomic mass: | 112.41 | |
| Standard phase: | Solid | |
| Elemental Class: | Transition Metal | |
| Electronegativity: | 1.69 | |
| Specific gravity: | 8.64 @ 25°C | |
| Melting point: | 321 deg C | |
| Boiling point: | 765°C | |
| Please see template {{Props}} for instructions on adding new properties of Cadmium to this table. | ||

