atomic number 48
- noun
- /əˈtɑːmɪk ˈnʌmbər fɔːrtiˈeɪt/
- Specialized
- The element with atomic number 48 is cadmium.
Examples
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Cadmium, which has atomic number 48, is used in batteries.
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The paint was found to contain traces of atomic number 48, which raised health concerns.
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Batteries sometimes use atomic number 48 because of its electrochemical properties.
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Mining activities can increase local exposure to atomic number 48 in soil and water.
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Cadmium, identified by its atomic number 48, is often found in rechargeable batteries.
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Exposure to atomic number 48 can be harmful due to its toxic properties.
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Regulations limit the use of atomic number 48 in household products to protect consumer health.
Synonyms
A soft bluish-white toxic metal often found with zinc ores
A soft silver-white metal that is poisonous and often found with zinc ores
Surface Forms
Morphology
atomic + number + forty-eight
The phrase is compositionally transparent in that a learner who knows 'atomic', 'number' and 'forty-eight' can infer it refers to the atomic-number label 48 (i.e. the element with that atomic number). However, identifying that atomic number 48 specifically names the element cadmium requires domain/encyclopedic chemistry knowledge beyond the constituent words, so the mapping to the lemma 'cadmium' is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Atomic number 48 is a simple scientific label for the element 'cadmium'. The word atomic and the number tell how many tiny particles called 'protons' are inside the atom, and because cadmium atoms have 48 of these, atomic number 48 means 'cadmium'.