Cadmium Sulfate Formula – Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd. Its atomic number is 48. It is a lustrous, silver-white ductile very malleable metal. It is a toxic heavy metallic element widely found in the earth’s crust. It is used in a nuclear reactor as an absorbing material to control the reaction rate of neutrons. Cadmium was discovered by Friedrich Stromeyer .

Sulfur is a chemical element with the symbol S. Its atomic number is 16 and its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴. It belongs to the oxygen group. It is abundant, multivalent, and nonmetallic. It is used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid it is used in batteries and cleaners. It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity.

Oxygen is a chemical element with the symbol O. Its atomic number is 8 and its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁴ .it belongs to the chalcogen group in the periodic table .it plays a critical role in respiration. It is used in industries and water treatment.

Cadmium Sulfate

Cadmium Sulfate is an inorganic compound with the formula CdSO₄.It is a white color crystalline solid easily soluble in water. It is widely used in electroplating cadmium in electronic circuits. It is a natural element present in the earth’s crust. It is soft, ductile, and malleable and usually occurs as a mineral of other elements. When cadmium sulfate is heated it forms toxic fumes of cadmium oxides. It is one of the environmental pollutants after mercury and lead. This compound consists of one cadmium atom surrounded by one Sulphur atom and four oxygen atoms. It is a known carcinogen and is associated with an elevated risk of developing lung cancer.

Structure Of Cadmium Sulfate

Cadmium Sulfate is an inorganic compound with the formula CdSO₄. In this compound, cadmium is a cation and sulfate is an anion. In this sulfate ion, the central atom is sulfur it is surrounded by four oxygen atoms. Lewis’s structure of Cadmium Sulfate is shown in the below diagram. It is held together by ionic bonds.

Cadmium Sulfate

Preparation Of Cadmium Sulfate

• Sulfuric acid reacts with cadmium to produce cadmium sulfate

2 H₂SO₄ + Cd —-> 2 H₂O + SO₂ + CdSO₄

• Cadmium reacts with sodium persulfate to produce cadmium sulfate

Cd + Na₂S₂O₈ ——-> Na₂SO₄ + CdSO₄

• Sulfuric acid reacts with cadmium hydroxide to produce cadmium sulfate  and water

H₂SO₄ + Cd(OH)₂ ——> 2 H₂O + CdSO₄

• Sulfuric acid reacts with cadmium oxide to produce cadmium sulfate

H₂SO₄+ CdO ——-> H₂O + CdSO₄

Physical Properties Of Cadmium Sulfate 

• Cadmium Sulfate’s molecular weight is 208.47 g/mol
• Its density is 4.691 g/cm³
• Its melting point is 1000^οC
• Boiling point: decomposes to basic sulfate and then the oxide

Chemical Properties Of Cadmium Sulfate 

• The chemical formula of cadmium sulfate is CdSO₄
• Cadmium Sulfate reacts with Sodium Hydroxide to form sodium sulfate and cadmium hydroxide

2 NaOH + CdSO₄ —-> Na₂SO₄ + Cd(OH)₂

• Zinc reacts with Cadmium Sulfate to form Zinc Sulfate and cadmium

Zn + CdSO₄ —-> ZnSO₄ + Cd

• Chromium reacts with Cadmium Sulfate to form Chromous Sulfate and cadmium

Cr + CdSO₄ —> Cd + CrSO₄

• Ammonium Hydroxide reacts with Cadmium Sulfate to form Cadmium hydroxide and ammonium tetraoxosulfate

2 NH₄OH + CdSO₄ —> Cd(OH)₂ + (NH₄)₂SO₄

• Sodium sulfide reacts with Cadmium Sulfate to form Cadmium sulfide and sodium sulfate

Na₂S + CdSO₄ —–> Na₂SO₄ + CdS

Health Effects Of Cadmium Sulfate 

• Cadmium sulfate is toxic for human beings.
• Exposure to cadmium sulfate can irritate the eyes, skin. 
• Inhaling cadmium sulfate can irritate the nose and throat.
• It has adverse effects on human kidneys and lungs
• This substance is carcinogenic to humans.
• It can cause nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Uses Of Cadmium Sulfate 

• Cadmium Sulfate is used in the production of the solar cells
• It is used in electroplating
• It is used as a pigment in fluorescent screens
• It is used for electrolyte in the Weston standard cell
• It is used as a chemical bath deposition in photoresistors 
• It is used as a chemical intermediate

FAQs on Cadmium Sulfate

Question 1: What are the uses of cadmium?

Answer:

Cadmium is a chemical element with the symbol Cd. It is an important metal in the production of nickel cadmium rechargeable batteries. It is present in coal and mineral fertilizers. it is used in many industries like manufacturing solar cells, electroplating, and silver soldering.

Question 2: Is cadmium sulfate aqueous or solid ?

Answer:

Cadmium Sulfate is an inorganic compound that consists of one cadmium atom surrounded by one sulfur atom and four oxygen atoms. It is a white color crystalline solid that is easily soluble in water.

Question 3: How is Cadmium used in nuclear reactors?

Answer:

Cadmium easily absorbs slow-moving neutrons. So they are used in a nuclear reactor. Cadmium rods are inserted in nuclear reactor to absorb the extra nucleons. Cadmium has a high thermal absorption cross-section. Therefore cadmium rods will absorb neutrons to control the fission rate.

Question 4: Is cadmium sulfate soluble in water?

Answer:

Cadmium in the environment usually exists as a mineral combined with other elements such as oxygen, chlorine, or sulfur all of which are water-soluble.

Question 5: How does cadmium affect the environment?

Answer:

Cadmium is toxic to plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is an environmental contaminant . The main sources of cadmium in the air are the burning of fossil fuels such as coal or oil and the incineration of municipal waste. Its toxicity causes the overproduction of reactive oxygen species and results in damage to plant membranes and the destruction of cell biomolecules and organelles.

Question 6: What are sulfates?

Answer:

Sulfate ion is a polyatomic anion with the formula SO₄^2- .Sulfates are chemicals used as cleaning agents .this compounds are used in a variety of products like shampoo, soaps, toothpaste dish detergents, and laundry detergents.

Question 7: Electrolysis of Cadmium Sulfate?

Answer:

Electrolysis  aqueous solution of cadmium sulfate to produce cadmium, oxygen, and sulfuric acid 

2 CdSO₄ + 2 H₂O —–> 2 Cd + O₂ + 2 H₂SO₄