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cadmium sulfide

Low (specialist/technical)
UK/ˈkædmiəm ˈsʌlfaɪd/US/ˈkædmiəm ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/

Technical/Scientific

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Definition

Meaning

A bright yellow crystalline inorganic compound with the chemical formula CdS.

Used as a pigment (cadmium yellow), in electronic components like photoresistors and solar cells, and in some types of semiconductor devices.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

Refers exclusively to a specific chemical compound. The name is a noun-noun compound where 'cadmium' specifies the metal cation and 'sulfide' specifies the anion.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The spelling 'sulphide' is the standard British variant. British usage may include the term 'cadmium sulphide' (with 'ph'). The American variant is consistently spelled 'sulfide'.

Connotations

None. Purely technical term.

Frequency

Frequency is tied to technical contexts (chemistry, electronics, art conservation) in both regions.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
cadmium sulfide nanoparticlecadmium sulfide pigmentcadmium sulfide solar cellcadmium sulfide crystal
medium
deposited cadmium sulfidetoxic cadmium sulfideyellow cadmium sulfidepowdered cadmium sulfide
weak
manufacture of cadmium sulfideapplication of cadmium sulfidelayer of cadmium sulfide

Grammar

Valency Patterns

[noun] composed of cadmium sulfide[verb] cadmium sulfide onto [surface]the use of cadmium sulfide in [application]a [noun] containing cadmium sulfide

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

Greenockite (the rare natural mineral form)

Neutral

CdS (chemical formula)cadmium yellow (as pigment)

Weak

cadmium pigmentyellow pigment

Vocabulary

Antonyms

There are no direct antonyms for a specific chemical compound.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “None”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare, except in contexts like 'The company produces cadmium sulfide for the electronics industry.'

Academic

Common in chemistry, materials science, and art history papers (e.g., 'The thin film was coated with cadmium sulfide.').

Everyday

Virtually never used. An artist might refer to 'cadmium yellow' paint.

Technical

Primary context. Used in specifications for electronics, chemical safety data sheets, and pigment manufacturing.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

  • The process involves sulphidising the cadmium ions.
  • Researchers aim to sulphidise the precursor to form the compound.

American English

  • The process involves sulfidizing the cadmium ions.
  • Researchers aim to sulfidize the precursor to form the compound.

adverb

British English

  • The film was deposited cadmium-sulphide-rich.
  • The pigment behaved cadmium-sulphide-like in its light absorption.

American English

  • The film was deposited cadmium-sulfide-rich.
  • The pigment behaved cadmium-sulfide-like in its light absorption.

adjective

British English

  • The cadmium-sulphide layer was analysed.
  • We observed a cadmium-sulphide-based photovoltaic effect.

American English

  • The cadmium-sulfide layer was analyzed.
  • We observed a cadmium-sulfide-based photovoltaic effect.

Examples

By CEFR Level

A2
  • This yellow paint is called cadmium yellow.
  • Some batteries contain cadmium.
B1
  • Cadmium sulfide is a chemical used in some pigments.
  • The scientist studied a compound called cadmium sulfide.
B2
  • The bright yellow colour in some paints comes from cadmium sulfide, a stable compound.
  • Due to its toxicity, the use of cadmium sulfide pigments is now restricted in many products.
C1
  • The research team developed a novel method for depositing a thin film of cadmium sulfide onto a silicon substrate, enhancing the solar cell's efficiency.
  • Art conservators must identify the presence of cadmium sulfide in historical paintings to advise on proper lighting conditions, as it can darken over time.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of 'Cadmium' (the metal) paired with 'Sulfide' (sulfur compound), like its periodic table neighbors zinc sulfide. It's the 'yellow cousin' in the metal-sulfide family.

Conceptual Metaphor

POTENTIAL/YIELD: Conceptualized as a 'harvester' of light (in solar cells) or a 'trap' for specific wavelengths (in pigments).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

  • Do not translate 'sulfide' as 'сульфид' and then decline both parts. The English term is a fixed compound; treat 'cadmium sulfide' as a single unit. Avoid 'сульфид кадмия' word order in English.
  • Do not confuse with 'cadmium sulfate' (CdSO₄), a different compound.

Common Mistakes

  • Misspelling as 'cadmium sulfate' (different compound).
  • Using 'sulfide' in UK contexts without acknowledging 'sulphide' as a valid variant.
  • Pronouncing 'sulfide' with a long 'i' (/saɪlfaɪd/) instead of the correct short 'i' (/sʌlfaɪd/).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The characteristic bright yellow pigment used by Impressionist painters, now known to be potentially toxic, is .
Multiple Choice

In which of the following fields is 'cadmium sulfide' LEAST likely to be a common term?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Cadmium sulfide is toxic if ingested or inhaled as dust. It is also an environmental pollutant. Its use in consumer products is heavily regulated.

'Cadmium sulfide' is the specific chemical compound (CdS). 'Cadmium yellow' is the common name for the pigment made from this compound, often mixed with other substances like cadmium selenide to create orange and red hues.

It is a semiconductor with useful photoconductive properties, meaning its electrical conductivity changes when exposed to light. This makes it valuable in photoresistors, solar cells, and thin-film transistors.

Pronounce it as /ˈsʌlˌfaɪd/ (SUL-fyed). The first syllable rhymes with 'gull', not 'sigh'.