Cadmium has a higher atomic number than zinc. The atomic number represents the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, and it determines an element's position in the periodic table.
Zinc has an atomic number of 30, which means its nucleus contains 30 protons. Cadmium, on the other hand, has an atomic number of 48, indicating that its nucleus contains 48 protons. Therefore, cadmium has a higher atomic number than zinc.
The atomic number increases as you move from left to right across the periodic table. This is because elements are arranged in ascending order based on their number of protons. The periodic table is organized in such a way that elements with similar properties are grouped together.
In the case of zinc and cadmium, they belong to the same group of elements known as the transition metals. Transition metals are located in the d-block of the periodic table. Zinc is positioned before cadmium because it has a lower atomic number.
The atomic number is a fundamental property of an element and determines its unique identity. It affects various properties and characteristics of an element, including its chemical behavior, reactivity, and bonding patterns.