The element cadmium (Cd) is in the 5th row and the 12th column of the periodic table. Cadmium is the chemical element that has the atomic number of 48. It is a soft bluish white metal that is similar in nature to other metals of Group 12 like Zinc and Mercury. It is a metal that has a very low melting point compared to other transition metals. It was discovered in the year 1817 simultaneously by 2 German scientists Stromeyer and Hermann.