Final answer:
Zinc and tin are two potential replacements for cadmium in manufacturing due to their similar use in electroplating and lower toxicity. Zinc would be the preferable choice because of its similar electrochemical properties to cadmium, wide availability, and established use in corrosion protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a factory originally used cadmium in its manufacturing process and needs to find a replacement, two possible elements that might serve as replacements are zinc (Zn) and tin (Sn). These two elements are commonly used in electroplating, like cadmium, and have properties that could make them suitable replacements depending on the specific application.
Zinc is often used in galvanizing to protect steel from corrosion, and tin is used for coating materials to prevent rusting. Both metals are much less toxic than cadmium and are commonly available. However, my choice would be zinc. This is because zinc is closely associated with cadmium in many applications, including batteries and electroplating, due to their similar electrochemical properties. Moreover, zinc is widely available as a primary metal and not just as a by-product of other metals, reducing supply risks. Additionally, it has proven effective in protecting against corrosion and is a well-established alternative in various industries.