cadmium sulfate
C2Technical/Scientific
Definition
Meaning
An inorganic compound with the chemical formula CdSO₄, a white solid commonly used as a pigment and in electroplating.
Any hydrate of cadmium sulfate (e.g., the monohydrate CdSO₄·H₂O), a soluble cadmium salt used in analytical chemistry, batteries, and as a precursor to other cadmium compounds.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A chemical term referring to a specific compound. Its primary context is chemistry, materials science, and industrial applications. It is not used figuratively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British English uses 'sulphate', American English uses 'sulfate'. Pronunciation of the 'sulfate/sulphate' component differs accordingly.
Connotations
None beyond the technical compound. The spelling difference follows the general UK-US pattern for '-sulf-'/'sulph-' words (e.g., sulfur/sulphur).
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to technical fields.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + cadmium sulfate (e.g., synthesize, precipitate, dissolve)cadmium sulfate + [verb] (e.g., cadmium sulfate dissolves, cadmium sulfate crystallises)cadmium sulfate + [noun] (e.g., cadmium sulfate solution, cadmium sulfate toxicity)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, might appear in procurement or safety documentation for chemical supplies.
Academic
Primary context. Used in chemistry, environmental science, and materials engineering textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core context. Used in laboratory manuals, safety data sheets (SDS), industrial process descriptions, and electroplating guides.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The cadmium sulphate reagent was contaminated.
- We analysed the cadmium sulphate solution.
American English
- The cadmium sulfate solution was prepared.
- Cadmium sulfate contamination was detected.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Cadmium sulfate is used in some types of batteries.
- The lab ordered more cadmium sulfate for the experiment.
- The researchers precipitated cadmium sulfate by adding sulfuric acid to a cadmium nitrate solution.
- Due to its solubility, cadmium sulfate poses a greater environmental mobility risk than cadmium oxide.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CADmium SULfate' sounds like a 'Cad' (a person) carrying a 'soul' (sulf) that's 'ate' (ate). Imagine a toxic person (cadmium is toxic) who ate a soul made of sulfate.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation 'кадмий сульфат' is correct but note the word order in English is 'cadmium sulfate' (noun + noun), not 'sulfate of cadmium' in most contexts.
- Beware of false friends: 'cadmium' is 'кадмий', not related to 'кадр' (frame).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'cadmium sulphate' in American contexts or 'cadmium sulfate' in British academic writing where 'sulphate' is preferred.
- Incorrect pluralisation (*cadmium sulfates). It is a mass noun; use 'samples of cadmium sulfate'.
- Confusing with 'cadmium sulfide' (CdS), a different yellow pigment.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary hazard associated with handling cadmium sulfate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is toxic if inhaled or ingested, a suspected carcinogen, and harmful to aquatic life. Proper safety equipment (gloves, fume hood) is required for handling.
Its main uses are in electroplating cadmium onto metals for corrosion resistance, as a precursor to cadmium pigments (like cadmium yellow), and in analytical chemistry as a standard.
The chemical formula is CdSO₄. It is often encountered as a hydrate, such as the monohydrate CdSO₄·H₂O or the octahydrate CdSO₄·8H₂O.
Cadmium sulfate (CdSO₄) is a soluble, white salt used in electroplating. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is an insoluble, yellow-to-orange solid used as a pigment. They are different compounds with distinct properties and uses.