 Cadmium is a soft , malleable , <unk> , bluish @-@ white divalent metal . It is similar in many respects to zinc but forms complex compounds . Unlike most other metals , cadmium is resistant to corrosion and is used as a protective plate on other metals . As a bulk metal , cadmium is <unk> in water and is not flammable ; however , in its powdered form it may burn and release toxic fumes . 
