This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of cadmium and lead, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Cadmium vs Lead.
Cadmium and Lead – About Elements
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Cadmium and Lead – Applications
Cadmium
Cadmium is primarily consumed for the production of rechargeable nickel cadmium batteries. In 2009, 86% of cadmium was used in batteries, predominantly in rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries. Other end uses include pigments, coatings and plating, and as stabilizers for plastics. Solar cell manufacturing may become another significant market for cadmium in the future. In nuclear industry cadmium is commonly used as a thermal neutron absorber due to very high neutron absorption cross-section of 113Cd. 113Cd has specific absorption cross-section.
Lead
Lead metal has several useful mechanical properties, including high density, low melting point, ductility, and relative inertness. Lead is widely used for car batteries, pigments, ammunition, cable sheathing, weights for lifting, weight belts for diving, lead crystal glass, radiation protection and in some solders. The largest use of lead in the early 21st century is in lead–acid batteries. The lead in batteries undergoes no direct contact with humans, so there are fewer toxicity concerns. Lead is used in high voltage power cables as sheathing material to prevent water diffusion into insulation; this use is decreasing as lead is being phased out. A lead is widely used as a gamma shield. Major advantage of lead shield is in its compactness due to its higher density. On the other hand depleted uranium is much more effective due to its higher Z. Depleted uranium is used for shielding in portable gamma ray sources.
Cadmium and Lead – Comparison in Table
Element | Cadmium | Lead |
Density | 8.65 g/cm3 | 11.34 g/cm3 |
Ultimate Tensile Strength | 75 MPa | 17 MPa |
Yield Strength | N/A | 5.5 MPa |
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity | 50 GPa | 16 GPa |
Mohs Scale | 2 | 1.5 |
Brinell Hardness | 303 MPa | 38 MPa |
Vickers Hardness | N/A | N/A |
Melting Point | 321.07 °C | 327.5 °C |
Boiling Point | 767 °C | 1740 °C |
Thermal Conductivity | 97 W/mK | 35 W/mK |
Thermal Expansion Coefficient | 30.8 µm/mK | 28.9 µm/mK |
Specific Heat | 0.23 J/g K | 0.13 J/g K |
Heat of Fusion | 6.192 kJ/mol | 4.799 kJ/mol |
Heat of Vaporization | 99.57 kJ/mol | 177.7 kJ/mol |