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A metallic element, atomic no. 48, atomic wt. 112.411; its salts are poisonous and little used in medicine. Various compounds of c. are used commercially in metallurgy, photography, electrochemistry, etc.; a few have been used as ascaricides, antiseptics, and fungicides. [L. cadmia, fr. G. kadmeia or kadmia, an ore of zinc, calamine]
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cad·mi·um 'kad-mē-əm n a bluish white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element used esp. in protective platings and in bearing metals symbol Cd see ELEMENT (table)
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n.
a silvery metallic element that can cause serious lung irritation if the fumes of the molten metal are inhaled. Long-term exposure may also cause kidney damage. Symbol: Cd.
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cad·mi·um (Cd) (kadґme-əm) [Gr. kadmia earth] a bivalent metal, similar to tin in appearance and properties; atomic number 48, atomic weight 112.40. Cadmium and its salts are poisonous; see cadmium poisoning, cadmiosis, and cadmium lung.Medical dictionary. 2011.