Definition

A soft, bluish-white metal that is found in some ores and is used in batteries, coatings, and various alloys.

Example

Cadmium is often used in rechargeable batteries due to its ability to hold a charge.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of cadmium?

Yeah, I think it's used in batteries, right?

Exactly! It's also found in some pigments and electroplating.

That's interesting; I didn't know it had so many uses.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cadmium originates from the Latin word 'cadmia', which refers to a type of calamine (a mineral) and is derived from the Greek 'kadmeia' (meaning calamine, named after Cadmus, a mythical figure associated with the founding of Thebes). The suffix '-ium' is commonly used in chemistry to denote metallic elements. Thus, cadmium refers to a metal that was named after a mineral associated with its discovery.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cadmia', the mineral linked to the metal cadmium, and remember that cadmium is a type of metal derived from this mineral.

Visually Confused Words