Common Reactions with Cadmium

Cadmium forms several important compounds in nature:

• Cadmium Hydroxide (Cd(OH)₂): This compound is seen in the Nickel-Cadmium battery and forms

• precipitate in the presense of a Nitric Acid solution.
• Cadmium Oxide (CdO): This compound in used in a variety of reactions including acting as a catalyst in redox reactions, hydrogenation reactions, polymerization and cleavage. Cadmium Oxide is heat resistant so it can be very useful in heat-resistant plastics, as well as other coatings for plastic. This compound is all seen in certain enamels and batteries.
• Cadmium Sulfate (CdSO₄): This compound, like many other compounds of Cadmium is used in electroplating, pigments, fluorescents, and batteries, specifically the Weston Cell.

These three compounds have the most significant use in society; however, a few other compounds that exist in nature are Cadmium Cyanide, Cadmium Chloride, Cadmium Carbonate, and Cadmium Nitrate.